The community, Gruver ISD and the foundation all want to create a brighter future for students. Panhandle pragmatism is at work in Gruver. The foundation also wants to attract families from afar to live in Gruver, a place that cares for its families and students and works to provide educational opportunity beyond high school in a variety of educational settings. Farmers volunteer equipment and time; students, teachers and staff help; and all begin to understand an agricultural way of life. They thought they were just planting corn, but they were growing community. The yield of corn challengingly coaxed from the land funds scholarships. Graduates of Gruver High School have the opportunity to attend college or vocational training tuition and fee free. Truckloads of graduates like those fromGruver would bring honor toWT. They know how to work. They know how to succeed. They expect a reward when success is achieved. These are the students that make a place likeWT successful. Leadership at every level, committed faculty, resources to support students and faculty and facilities that offer excellent places to work and study are all important. When Karl Nielsen donated 410 acres of land to help Gruver ISD, the school set it up as a cash lease. Although the yield was modest, about $25,000 per year, the good folks of Gruver thought they could do better. Volunteers, farmers and townsfolk did do better. They raised corn as a community. They sold corn. The proceeds are fueling postsecondary study. Students are awarded funds based on a combination of merit and participation. Yes, test scores and grades are important—the foundation recognizes that, as does the Gruver ISD; but community participation, belonging to something larger than itself, is also a critical factor. Truckloads of graduates like those from Gruver would bring honor to WT. They know how to work. They know how to succeed. They expect a reward when success is achieved. These are the students that make a place like WT successful. Leadership at every level, committed faculty, resources to support students and faculty and facilities that offer excellent places to work and study are all important. These elements allow a university to turn dreams into reality for students who have aspirations for themselves, their families and the places they call home. When a student is looking for a university experience, I would advise them to diligently seek out a place that values and champions the free exchange of ideas, puts the needs of others first and applies what is learned for the betterment of communities. Seek an institution that embraces better ways to shape the future and treats others with a dignity that flows from the humanity of a place where each individual promotes citizenship and being part of something larger than oneself.
That’s not a field of dreams for a university or a student, but a focus on real mission that becomes an institutional reality.
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