My dad, Walter Coupe, passed away almost a year ago, on June 9, 2017.
As I mentioned at the time, one of his wishes that that we set up a scholarship program at Mamaroneck High School, in the suburban New York school district where he spent his entire career as an educator, first as a teacher and then as a principal. His goal was to award a little bit of money each year to students who were the first in their families to go to college.
Some weeks ago, we all read the various essays submitted by eligible students, in which they talked about their educational experiences to that point, and their goals for the future. We chose three of them to get the scholarship money this year.
And then, this week, my three sisters (along with one spouse) and one of my brothers and I went to an evening awards ceremony at Mamaroneck High School, and watched as a lot of students were recognized, including the three students we’d chosen. (You can see us, below. The spouse took the picture.)
It felt good to see these students at the beginning of their lives, still with so many choices still to make and experiences still to enjoy. And it felt great to know that this is what Dad wanted … to say something about the value of learning, something that he embraced as long as he could in his own life.
None of the students in the room, nor their parents and the educators, really knew anything about Dad. But they now join the legions of people whose lives have been affected by him, even if just a little.
Life after, indeed.
That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you Monday.
Slàinte!
- KC's View:
