Dan Gordon was North Clarion High School’s 1971 valedictorian. He now lives in Minnesota, but he still keeps up with North Clarion.
When Gordon saw the 2018 valedictorian didn’t get much in the way of scholarships, he decided to do something about it.
Gordon established the Alumni Scholarship Fund to support North Clarion valedictorians and, hopefully, salutatorians pursuing a post-secondary education.
Gordon originally planned to establish a foundation fund that would start providing for valedictorians in 2021. He and a few 1971 classmates would donate the money themselves.
But after meeting with lawyers, the North Clarion Foundation and district officials, Gordon determined the fund would be better off as an alumni-sponsored endowment.
This way, the fund could grow over time and provide for salutatorians as well as valedictorians.
“It kind of morphed,” Gordon admitted.
An endowment could also affect Gordon’s timeline in one very positive way.
“(It means) maybe I can get the scholarship started earlier,” he said.
According to information provided on the North Clarion School District website, the endowment will be tax-free and donors can make tax-deductible donations.
Gordon wants to offer a minimum of $500 to valedictorians and pay 4 percent of the endowment’s value each year after the minimum balance is reached.
To meet the $500 minimum, the endowment must be $12,500. When the fund reaches a $1,500 payout, two-thirds of the money will go to the valedictorian and one-third will go to the salutatorian.
If there is more than one valedictorian, the payout will be split between them.
Gordon said the class of 1971 has already pledged funds for the top students of 2021. He challenges the classes of 1969, 1970 and 1972 to match or beat 1971’s $1,000 in order to provide for students graduating 50 years after them.
Classes have until May 1 of their challenge year to raise money.
Valedictorians will get up to $1,500, with salutatorians receiving anything extra up to $2,000. Funds exceeding $2,000 will go into the endowment.
Other graduated classes are welcome to contribute to the challenge and the endowment.
Information about the Alumni Scholarship Fund can be found at www.northclarion.org.