Major RHS scholarship announced

A $300,000 endowed scholarship from Pauline Crockett of Rector has been given to the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation to fund college tuition and books for a Rector High School graduate each year.

To be called the Robert and Pauline Crockett Scholarship, also recognizing Mrs. Crockett's late husband, the scholarship will be renewable so recipients can re-apply each year up to four years.

"It is so fitting that Pauline Crockett is giving this scholarship," said Helping Hands Foundation co-founder Bill Carter, a Rector native who now resides in Nashville, Tenn. "She was a school teacher here years ago and had a big influence on her students. She certainly had a big influence on me. She was so kind and mothered everyone within her reach."

Ray Hardin of Rector, who was a student of Mrs. Crockett in the Fritz community, also speaks highly of her. "She was a good teacher," he said. "We really liked her."

Mrs. Crockett is widely known in Rector for her keen intellect and love for knowledge and education. She has always loved books and enjoys discussing them with friends and relatives.

The Crocketts were long-time business owners in Rector and in 1991 made a major contribution to make the Rector Community Center a reality. The two also gave to the community in a number of other ways, including the purchase of a modern new ambulance a few years ago.

The Crockett scholarship, and another recently funded by the family of the late James W. Graves, take the Helping Hands Foundation to a new level in assisting local students who are financially challenged and otherwise might not be able to attend college.

Carter, an attorney, television producer and author, identified the need and conceived the Foundation in 2006 along with his former classmate, U.S. Army Major General (Ret.) George Barker of New York.

The Helping Hands Foundation began its efforts by helping disadvantaged students participate in sports, take part in field trips, buy books and other necessities, or receive needed medical or dental care.

"It's hard enough navigating 12 years of school without added pressure from peers when a student has health, dental or vision problems which may affect their appearance," Carter said in announcing the Foundation's start in 2006. "We want to provide funds to help them correct those problems."

"It comes down to a child whose family is unable to meet their basic needs," Barker said. "They often have no where to turn because they're trying just to put a roof over their family's head and food on the table. We're here to fill those gaps and give them a hand up in their time of want."

Carter and Barker have emphasized it is a goal of the Foundation that those to whom help is extended will eventually become contributing members themselves of Helping Hands.

Over the last year and a half, the Helping Hands Foundation has raised thousands of dollars and already has helped hundreds of Rector students.

The Foundation also has purchased band instruments and new uniforms for the RHS marching band and is in constant communication with teachers to identify needs of both individual students and the school as a whole.

President of the Helping Hands board is local businessman Sherland Hamilton. Other officers are Steve Crancer, vice president, and Cathy Manning, secretary/treasurer. Other members of the Foundation board are Gene Beal, Dr. Bryan Blackshare, Billy Bert Bracken, Melvin Bridges, Kay Huggins, Lisa Manchester, Jim McCord, Sue Marlar Riggs, Julia Wyss, Oral Edwards, Leland Blackshare, Joey Pruett, Gloria Rust-Reed, Teresa Sain, Carter and Barker.

Those who want more information about the Helpings Hands Foundation may contact Hamilton or Manning at (870) 595-3501. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 8, Rector, AR 72461.