Huntingdon College announces $1 million gift for rural teacher program
Huntingdon College has announced a $1 million gift has been made to start a rural teacher program.
Today, President Anthony Leigh announced the gift, given by Dr. Michael Murphy and Dr. Maureen Murphy ’78 to create the Dr. Michael Derrington Murphy and Dr. Maureen Kendrick Murphy Rural Teacher Education Scholarship Program.
“Dr. Maureen Murphy and Dr. Michael Murphy are exemplary teachers,” Leigh said.
“Together they have contributed over 100 years to the advancement of chemistry, over 100 years of inspiring students, over 100 years of genuine interest and care for their students, over 100 years of going the second mile in service to their current and former students, and over 100 years of representing all that is good about the profession of education.
“Today we come together to celebrate them, their lives of service, their heart for people which is an extension of their faith, and their desire to make a transformational impact on the lives of future Huntingdon teacher education students who will go forth to apply the wisdom they gain here into classrooms across Alabama.”
The scholarship program will fund full scholarships for high-achieving and high-need students from rural Alabama with a calling to serve as classroom teachers in their hometown or other rural areas of the state.
It is the hope that these scholarships will help the state’s teacher shortage.
“Maureen and I are delighted to be able to provide these funds to promote education in Alabama. We believe that investing in the people who live and work in our rural communities is an essential part of how we create communities that lift all lives. We are hopeful that our gift will encourage others to support the preparation of our future teachers in Alabama,” Dr. Michael Murphy said.
The program will begin in the fall of 2025.
