A few years ago, when the State of Wyoming was literally swimming in more mineral generated money then they could responsibly spend, they did at least one very good thing—and that was to establish the Hathaway Scholarship. When the $400 Million dollar permanent trust fund is completely full, predicted to be around March of 2008, it will provide a perpetual amount sufficient to grant this scholarship from the income of the fund alone. Although, we are not the only state to have a merit scholarship of this type, we are the only state in the union to have a completely funded permanent trust to support the scholarship.
It is hugely appropriate that this scholarship be named after our beloved Governor, Stanley K. Hathaway, who was a World War II war hero, and a humble, but very effective leader, and governor from 1967 to 1975.. Hathaway participated in 35 successful missions over France and Germany, but his 401st Heavy Bombardment Group suffered a high casualty rate. It is said that for years, after serving as a gunner in the Army Air Corp during the war, that he would relive the nightmares of those days in his dreams. My husband, a Vietnam veteran, experienced the same vicious cycle of nightmares for many, many years—and still has a bad night every once in awhile—nearly 40 years later. Our American Veterans Day should not be the only day in the year when we acknowledge and celebrate the sacrifices and commitment of our military men and women.
But the main reason that it is so fitting that this scholarship be named after Governor Hathaway, is because he was the leader who first implemented a mineral severance tax in Wyoming, and the leader who established the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund. In the lore of the State, it is said that when he took over the office, the State was flat broke, and going in the red, fast. He asked how much money was in the General Fund, and someone came in and said, “$89.00…Governor, what are we going to do?” Stan said, “the first thing we are going to do is stop writing checks.” After that, they went to work and figured out a way to keep the state on its feet.
That legacy is what has fueled the tremendous wealth of this state, which allowed for the possibility of such a scholarship to every Wyoming kid willing to put in the effort. While that legacy has been our savior many times over, and no doubt will be again, it is my fear that our nearly total dependence on mineral revenue, will also be the bane of our demise.
In regards to the Hathaway Scholarship, itself, the program is very new. Last year was the first year that scholarships were distributed. During the General Session in January and February, we passed a controversial “Success Curriculum,” including a very strong emphasis on math, science, English, and foreign language, that is now required of students if they want to get the scholarship. One of the problems is that it is almost totally focused on those students who are headed for a four-year degree at the University. Statistics point out that only 1 in 10 people ever complete a 4-year degree, and work in their chosen field after graduation. Wyoming desperately needs Career and Technical Education (CTE), but these are the programs and educators who are being cut statewide, in order to provide more of the academics.
What we need to do is keep the educational bureaucracy from smearing an overabundance of complicated rules and regulations, and tricky model-driven redistribution schemes, over the whole thing. It is designed and intended to help any deserving high school student, who has worked hard enough to earn decent grades, and who has studied hard enough to pass the ACT Tests with a good score, to attend a one, two, or four-year post-secondary institution without the added stress of figuring out how to pay for it all. We should keep it as simple as that. We need to provide incentives to do good work once you have earned a scholarship. We need to provide a way to regain the scholarship if you slip out of eligibility, for whatever reason. And we need to make sure that it truly does encourage students to gain the credentials for opportunities that are available right here in Wyoming—whether that be at a one-year certification/apprentice program, a two-year Associates Degree, or a four-year Baccalaureate degree.
My father, Dick Wallis, (who is, by the way, a Korean War veteran), spent many years working hard to better the education system in this State, both as a local school board member, and as a legislator. When talking about the potential of the Hathaway Scholarship, he had this brilliant advice for all of us:
“Keep it simple…and, make it fair.”
