School of Education NewsRelease

1927 GRADUATE PLEDGES $1.3 MILLION TO UNCG
TO CREATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN EDUCATION
 

C.D. Spangler Jr., Chancellor Patricia Sullivan and Helena Gabriel Houston

GREENSBORO—Helena Gabriel Houston learned the value of an education many years ago when she was studying at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

At age 96, she is giving a lot back to her alma mater—a pledge of $1.3 million that will establish a scholarship fund in the UNCG School of Education. But for those who attended a recent announcement luncheon at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, it was a chance to pay homage to a woman who taught for four decades in the same classroom at Dilworth Elementary School in Charlotte.

When she presented a check to UNCG Chancellor Patricia Sullivan, Mrs. Houston spoke briefly, saying she hoped that others “would find a use for it, and thank you very much” for the opportunity. That comment was very personal. Decades earlier, she had received tuition waivers for her education because she was studying to be a teacher. While going through college, she had borrowed some money from the North Carolina College for Women (NCCW—now UNCG) and from some friends.

At the lunch, Sullivan expressed the University’s gratitude for the gift that will establish the Helena Gabriel Houston Scholarship Fund for the School of Education. When fully funded, it will provide between 8 to 12 scholarships annually for prospective teachers. The chancellor also presented her with a vintage copy of the 1927 yearbook of the North Carolina College for Women, the year that Houston graduated, and her class flowers—red and white roses.

“This gift will carry on the legacy that she began when she was a student and that she carried out during 40 years of wonderful teaching,” said Sullivan. “This will be put to good use to attract the best students we can to the University and to prepare them at a very high level to go out there and make a difference in the lives of young people, the way you did for so long.

“One of the things about education we should always remember is that it is the tool that enables you to be who it is you want to be as a human being, and to pursue a living as well as a life, and to make a difference in the world around you.

C.D. Spangler Jr., one of the state’s most successful and powerful businessmen, and former president of the UNC system, came to pay tribute to his fourth grade teacher, “Miss Gabriel.” In a delightful and poignant 10 minutes, Spangler turned through his scrapbook and went back 60 years to his schooldays as a nine-year-old. “Miss Gabriel terrified me, frankly,” he recalled. “She expected us to do our work.”

He showed the class picture for the year, noting, “You see that she has a firm hand on me.”

To the chuckling audience, he read his teacher’s comments on his quarterly report card, sent home to his parents so many years back. “It said reasonable things about ‘Dixon,’ but it said ‘Sometimes he could spend spare time more wisely,’” Spangler read. “And then one comment said ‘I encourage him to read more at home.’ Mother wrote back that, ‘We encourage Dixon to read more at home, too.’ And she also wrote, ‘We appreciate the fine way you are handling Dixon at school.’”

He talked about the big pull-down maps from which he learned the location of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He recalled the orange cover of his geography textbook. “I can remember where I sat in her classroom and so can she,” Spangler said. “She remembers the other students in the class, too. She did this wonderful work in her classroom for 40 years. I had several strong teachers at Dilworth, but Miss Gabriel was particularly strong. She was the best.”

Dr. Dale Schunk, new dean of the School of Education at UNCG, asked “How can we get students qualified, capable and feeling confident and motivated to stay in this profession and make a difference in the education of the children of this state? One thing that helps us tremendously is gifts like yours, Mrs. Houston, because it helps us to attract very good students. We want them to come to UNCG because this is the best teacher-training program in the state. Scholarships like this are invaluable because they will help us continue the excellence that teachers like you have continued for so long.”

One of the best laughs, though, came from Dr. Eric Smith, superintendent of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “I feel like I’ve been cheated somewhat because I didn’t have the chance to be superintendent when you were serving as a teacher,” he said, but then joked, “I tell folks its never too late to come back.

“To be in your presence today is a true honor. The business of teaching is a magical event and is extraordinarily challenging. When that classroom door closes…and you proceed through the year, it is a gift of love that does transcend a lifetime. I’m very proud that we had you in the school system here in Charlotte and I mean it when I say, it’s never too late to come back.”

Helena Houston, now 96, got a good laugh at that.
 
 

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