story & photo by Betsy Compton
A new scholarship endowment will honor a family legacy at the University of West Alabama, its namesake the parents of UWA President Ken Tucker. The Dr. Betty Jean and Howard Tucker Endowed Scholarship, endowed at $150,000, is a transformative gift that will provide perpetual support for students for many years to come.
Tucker, who became the University’s 12th president in 2015, announced that he will retire at the end of 2024, culminating a decade-long tenure at the helm of the institution. Prior to being named president, Tucker served as dean of the College of Business.
Tucker’s mother, to whom he has jokingly referred to as “the original Dr. Tucker,” served as chair of the Department of Languages and Literature in the College of Liberal Arts for 20 years. She was named emeritus professor upon her retirement, and continued writing and publishing until her death in 2018, including novels at the age of 83 and 87. She was first published as a 19-year-old undergraduate student.
His father, William Howard Tucker began his career in the military, enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, going on to fight in World War II in the Pacific Theater. Following his military service, he spent his career at Borden Chemical Company in Demopolis.
The scholarship endowment is the third naming for Betty Jean Tucker on the UWA campus. An early leadership gift to UWA’s “The University We Will Be” capital campaign gave way to the naming of the Betty Jean Tucker Conference Room in Wallace Hall. Each year, scholarly awards are presented in her name to student writers who excel in creative and technical writing.
During her tenure, she implemented the University’s journalism minor, established a nationally-circulated literary magazine, revitalized the theatre program, founded the Livingston Press and made the division’s writing lab a model for other Alabama universities. She received the William E. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Teaching and is a member of the prestigious Society of the Golden Key. In fact, the Tuckers are the only mother-son duo to hold both of these distinctions.
“Mother was the consummate professional who positively impacted countless lives through her well-earned reputation of being tough but fair,” Tucker said. “Daddy was that rare blend of strength and kindness which made him the perfect example of ‘the good man.’ They were both borne of the Depression and therefore epitomized the virtues of hard work, sacrifice, duty, responsibility, courage, faith, and family.”
The Dr. Betty Jean and Howard Tucker Endowed Scholarship honors the Tucker family’s legacy at UWA, started by Dr. Betty Jean Tucker and carried on by Dr. Ken Tucker, UWA’s 12th president.
For President Tucker, an honorarium that directly supports student success the way scholarships do has the most positive and far-reaching impact.
“Scholarships help remove financial barriers that often prevent students from focusing on their studies, or perhaps even from attending college,” Tucker said. “Throughout my time in higher education, I have seen firsthand that financial hardship can affect even the hardest-working and most talented students, and our hope is that any student who is willing to work hard to learn, develop their skills, and give back in a meaningful way can have the opportunity to earn a degree through scholarship support.”
Throughout Tucker’s administration, he has advocated for fiscal responsibility and managing expenses, thereby minimizing costs for students. A tuition freeze now in its seventh consecutive year, along with increased emphasis on scholarship development, are part of ongoing efforts to making higher education an option for students who demonstrate a willingness and commitment to excellence.
This endowed scholarship is designed to reward students who meet standards of achievement but are financially challenged and may be unable to earn a degree without scholarship assistance. To be considered for the scholarship, the student must be an incoming freshman and a resident of either Marengo or Sumter counties in Alabama, having a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for all high school coursework completed, and demonstrate academic achievement, work ethic, and financial need. Preference will be given to students majoring in English, journalism, integrated marketing communications, business administration, or management.
Tucker sees access to quality education as a cornerstone for societal progress, rewarding students’ scholarly success and nurturing their leadership abilities in a way that builds communities and strengthens their contributions in the workplace and in their civic endeavors.
An endowed scholarship is a transformative gift that provides perpetual support for students in need. Unlike traditional scholarships, endowed scholarships are sustained by the interest generated from the initial donation, ensuring a lasting impact that spans generations.
To contribute to this scholarship endowment, contact the Office of Development at 205-652-5459.