Susan Thomas is a retired English professor. (Photo by Bill Roa)
Retired English professor Susan Thomas says she doesn’t believe in immortality in this world, but she does think you can help others achieve their dreams.
“Over time, those friends we honor with endowed funds are recognized only as names attached to an award,” Thomas says. “But creating and supporting scholarships in honor of remarkable GPC colleagues and students serves two purposes: Friends can express their admiration of the honorees and, secondly, students receiving these awards are helped to achieve their dreams, regardless of how meager the dollar amount.”
Thomas, who began teaching in 1967 at what was then DeKalb College, recalls the dearth of scholarships and awards available for students then.
“We weren’t even a decade old, and there were not many awards established,” she says. “The college didn’t even have a foundation to manage endowed funds. I saw the need for giving recognition to students who were accomplishing their goals. And I realized that creating a named scholarship was a great way to honor friends and colleagues.”
Thomas hit the ground running in 1979, organizing first the drive to establish the Camille Colvin Scholarship, named after an English professor who had passed away. Since that year, the annual award—approximately $350—has been granted to the Phi Theta Kappa member (Chi Pi Chapter) with the highest academic average.
Later, Thomas led the drive to establish the Eddie Butcher Scholarship in memory of a bright and loveable student in the college’s Honors Program. Each year, that $300 award goes to the Clarkston Campus Honors Program student who best reflects Eddie’s intellectual and leadership qualities.
In 2005 Thomas worked with former colleagues and the Emory Village Writers Group to establish the Helen Friese Scholarship, in memory of a professional writer and perennial GPC “Prime Timer” student who enlivened the Honors Program classes for almost two decades. That annual $250 award recognizes gifted students in GPC’s creative writing courses.
Thomas is a steadfast donor to the college’s endowed awards, every fall contributing to those she helped to establish and to others dear to her heart: the Dr. Grace McNamara Scholarship for Dual Enrollment students; the Diane Jennings Scholarship; and the Susan Thomas Lectureship Fund, which Dr. Susan McGrath and former colleagues began in Thomas’ name a few years ago to provide faculty with money to bring in guest speakers.
“I am deeply touched and proud to be remembered almost a decade after I retired,” Thomas says. “But I also give because the proceeds serve a purpose that I highly value.”
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