Carl and Barbara Blanchard of Cape Girardeau, Mo., are continuing their longstanding commitment to education by establishing an endowed scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University to support future teachers as they prepare to enter the classroom.
The scholarship will support students majoring in education who are nearing completion of their degrees, with a particular focus on those beginning their student-teaching experience. Recognizing the time and effort required during this stage of teacher preparation, the Blanchards hope their gift will ease students' financial burdens and allow them to focus on completing their degrees and preparing for their careers.
For Barbara, the scholarship reflects a lifetime dedicated to education. She spent 39 years as an educator, serving as a teacher and principal in the Cape Girardeau Public School District and other Missouri districts after graduating from SEMO with her Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 1961. In 1985, she earned her master’s degree in elementary education administration from SEMO.
Barbara's connection to Cape Girardeau public schools began when she attended Washington Elementary School as a student. She later taught multiple grade levels at Washington Elementary before becoming the school's principal. She retired from education in 1998.
In 1999, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education voted unanimously to name a new elementary school in her honor. Barbara Blanchard Elementary School opened in 2000 and continues to serve children in the community.
Carl has maintained an established connection to the Cape Girardeau community through his career in real estate and investments, spanning more than 30 years. He served two terms as president of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors and was named Realtor of the Year in 1989.
The endowed scholarship will help education students manage the financial demands of student teaching as they complete their degrees and prepare for careers in southeast Missouri schools. For the Blanchards, the gift is a way to continue supporting education in their community while helping prepare the next generation of teachers.
To learn more about supporting students at Southeast Missouri State University, visit semo.edu/giving.