Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Doris D. Smith, Agenda, continued to help students of Cloud and Republic counties long after her teaching career ended. And she made sure that help would continue long after her passing.

Smith was a teacher for 43 years and firmly believed in the importance of higher education. She and her husband, Arthur, had no children of their own, but they wanted to help young people get an education. Smith established a trust to provide scholarships to students wanting to continue their education past high school. That trust has been transferred to the Kansas State University Foundation, which will now ensure students from north-central Kansas will continue to benefit from Smith's generosity. The renewable scholarship will benefit up to four students from Cloud or Republic counties enrolled in the College of Education at Kansas State University.

Born in Talmo, Smith grew up on a farm and later lived on a farm with her husband. She taught elementary students in rural schools in Cloud and Republic counties as well as at Belleville Junior High and Concordia's Lincoln Elementary School. Smith earned her bachelor's degree from Marymount College in Salina, and her master's degree in education from Kansas State University.

"Doris hoped these scholarships would encourage students who might not otherwise go on to college or technical college," said Jackie Ramsey, Smith's niece. "We hope this scholarship will help students not have to borrow so much to get an education."

Philanthropic contributions to Kansas State University are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation. The foundation staff works with university partners to build lifelong relationships with alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students through involvement and investment in the university.