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Longtime FLC provost endows scholarship fund for teachers
by Mitch Davis
Dr. Stephen Roderick and I arrive at Carver’s Brewing Company at exactly the same moment, which saves us the trouble of finding each other during the lunch rush. The last time I saw Steve was at the memorial service for one of Fort Lewis College’s beloved professors, “Dr. Pete” Peterson, so it was nice to be connecting under happier circumstances.
Today our lunch meeting is to discuss the announcement of the endowment of his scholarship fund, now to be called the Stephen A. Roderick Endowed Scholarship Fund. This scholarship and the many other causes he supports at FLC didn’t happen overnight, but were built up over his 30 years as a teacher and administrator at the College.
The fund is designated for students in the College’s Teacher Education program, where Steve got his start. He taught in the program when he first came to Fort Lewis College and led the program as chair. In particular, he brings up Skyhawk student-athletes who are pursuing a teaching degree and how he thinks this scholarship could be helpful to them.
“Between their sport and other schoolwork, student-athletes may not have time to do the student teaching necessary to earn their degree during their playing days,” he explains, almost shouting over the din of the restaurant. “Let’s help them out.”
That makes a lot of sense to me. I’d gotten to know a number of Skyhawk student-athletes over the years, and I always marvel at how busy they are. Up early, classes all morning, practice in the afternoons to the evenings, then homework. When they travel for games, they have to work out a schedule for tests with their professors. That’s not even counting a job or other extracurricular activities.
When the food arrives, I ask why he made the decision to create this scholarship in the first place, and why he invested so much to it over the years through giving avenues like payroll deduction.
“Look, this is important for our students,” he says. “We can’t fund all the scholarships we’d like from the College’s General Fund.”
It’s an answer born from many years as FLC’s provost and countless hours sitting in budget meetings. There’s more to it than just the dollars and cents, though. Steve cares, because he knows the good a college education can do for a person.
As provost, Steve had the opportunity to be the master of ceremonies at many commencement ceremonies. He’s stared into the faces of thousands of Fort Lewis College graduates and watched them walk across the stage. Even after my ten years at FLC, I’m still amazed at the change that happens within students from the time they arrive as freshmen to graduation day. I suspect Steve has seen the same thing.
The rain is coming down now outside Carver’s and I’m grateful that I thought to bring a jacket along even though the sun was shining when I parked my truck. Typical Southwest monsoon season weather. I’ve got another meeting to get to up on campus (not something Steve has to worry about after retiring in 2011), so I hurry and polish off the rest of my lunch.
As I’m stuffing my face, Steve brings up another point he’d like included in the announcement. “For anyone considering giving,” he says, “endowing a fund is a way to ensure that your contribution will live on for the long term.”
It’s true. Endowing a fund means that the total within the fund has reached an amount high enough that it can be invested. The interest earned off that initial invested amount is then awarded, increasing the longevity of the fund. A person could give enough money to endow a fund all at once, or they can start a fund and build up the total over time, like Steve did. Either way, an endowed fund means that students will be benefiting for years to come.
Finally, the food has been finished, the check paid (I grabbed it first, but Steve snatched it away with that throaty laugh that’s so distinctive) and we say our goodbyes. As I walk away, I’m glad to know that Steve’s scholarship fund will be an added part to his legacy at Fort Lewis College.
For more information on giving to Fort Lewis College, including the Stephen A. Roderick Endowed Scholarship Fund, visit www.fortlewis.edu/makeagift.