The importance of a strong community and a good quality education was instilled in the Garrett children from a young age
The Garrett family, longtime residents of Fentress County, recently established a scholarship endowment named The Gaston and Janet Garrett Family Scholarship Endowment in honor of their parents.
The endowment, set up through Roane State Foundation, will assist Roane State students for years to come,” according to the school. The goal is helping Fentress County college students, especially those majoring in STEM fields, complete their degrees.
“The importance of a strong community and a good quality education was instilled in the Garrett children from a young age,” said Scott Niermann, executive director of Roane State Foundation. “Their parents believed in hard work, strong ethics and commitment to community, and their children wish to carry on that tradition through this scholarship.
Gaston and Janet Garrett raised six children together in Fentress County:
- Christopher
- Patrick
- Keith
- David
- Priscilla
- Susan
According to a release by the school, the children remember their upbringing fondly, noting that a focus on education was always part of the conversation. Of the six children, five now have college degrees, an achievement for which they give their parents much of the credit.
“Roane State’s current campus in Fentress County is located in Clarkrange, but a new 49,000-square-foot Fentress County Higher Education Center is under construction in Jamestown. Both Roane State and TCAT Oneida will occupy the space, offering associate degrees and certificates in multiple programs. The facility is expected to open in the fall of 2025,” according to the release.
fallRSCC says the campus project has generated excitement.
“The new campus project has been generating excitement in the community, particularly with respect to the additional opportunities it will bring local citizens of all ages,” according to the school.
The Garrett family says seeing the plans for the new campus take shape was just one of many reasons they chose to start the scholarship fund.
“We feel it is the perfect opportunity for our citizens to step up and get involved in helping our community prosper,” explained Patrick Garrett.
Patrick, along with his brothers, Christopher and David, have challenged members of the Garrett family and Fentress County residents to consider donating to the new endowment.
“Having an education is not only important to an individual, but to their family and in turn the entire community,” Patrick Garrett added. “Knowledge is power. And our parents would be thrilled to know a scholarship endowment had been set up in their name to help others in Fentress County receive a good education.”
Donations can be made online at roanestate.edu/garrettfamilyscholarship. Contributions can also be sent via standard mail by sending a check to Roane State Foundation, 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, TN 37748. If mailing a check, please specify the “Gaston and Janet Garrett Family Scholarship Endowment” in the memo line.
For more information on Garrett family’s history and the scholarship endowment honoring Gaston and Janet Garrett, visit roanestate.edu/garrettfamilyscholarship.
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