The board of the Bart Scharlach Memorial Foundation (BSMF) recently voted to move the management of the fund?s assets to the Northeast Texas Community College Foundation. In doing so, the gift reached the established level to rename both the Business Technology (BT) Building and the Whatley Center Auditorium on the NTCC campus.
The BT Building is now named the Bart Scharlach Business Technology Building, and the Whatley Center Auditorium is the Scharlach Auditorium. According to Weldon Miller, President of the Bart Scharlach Memorial Foundation, the board unanimously felt that it was a positive move to transfer the foundation?s assets to NTCC.
The BSMF was founded in 2004 in memory of Bart Scharlach, who was a well-respected banker from Mount Pleasant living in Fort Stockton, Texas, at the time of his death.††Scharlach was the oldest son of Art and Jane Scharlach and a 1984 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School.
When Bart died, a group of people began to think about what could be done to perpetuate his memory in both of the communities where Bart and his family mean so much.††Subsequently, the BSMF was established with the mission of raising funds for educational, health, and community purposes to improve the quality of life for the people of Mount Pleasant and Fort Stockton.
The board of directors for the BSMF included Miller, Chris Elliott, Bill Whitaker, Mary Ann Munsinger, Julie Loveless, Danny Woodson, Sherri Fox, Joe Sandlin, Jr., Bill Priefert, Ricky Baker, Lou Ann Tovar, Lynn Cooper, Chad Elledge, Tammy Foster, and Gary Cardwell. Several major fundraising events, including the BSMF Trail Ride, were held in the years to come.
?Our board members worked hard over the years to develop the Bart Scharlach Memorial Foundation into a positive force in the community.††During its existence, the BSMF raised thousands of dollars that was used to help numerous families and individuals who had experienced unfortunate circumstances.† In addition, annual scholarships were granted to deserving high school graduates to help them further their education,? Weldon Miller, President of the Foundation, said.
The transfer of the BSMF assets will primarily be used to support the new Work Scholarship Program at NTCC. This unique experience allows students to work on campus during the summer to earn their tuition for the upcoming year. This year, 40 students were able to participate in the program thanks to private†donors, like the BSMF.
?We have worked closely with the NTCC Foundation to make sure that our mission will be carried out for many years to come,? said Miller.
Bart Scharlach took classes at NTCC before†transferring to Austin College, where he received a Bachelor?s Degree in 1988. He later completed a Master of Business†Administration Degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
?Education was important to Bart and it is good to see area students have more†opportunities in his memory,? Art Scharlach, said.†?There is a lot of value in working hard to earn your education, and†I believe that NTCC?s Work Scholarship Program is an excellent fit for the BSMF.?
The newly named BT Building and Auditorium will be unveiled after the NTCC campus renovation is completed.
?We are so happy that the Bart Scharlach Memorial Foundation decided to entrust the NTCC Foundation with its assets. We feel that the mission of the Work Scholarship Program aligns closely with the original†spirit of the fund and it will continue to directly benefit students well into the future,? stated Dr. Jonathan McCullough, NTCC Vice President for Advancement.
To learn more about the NTCC Work Scholarship, or to learn more about the current building naming campaign, contact McCullough at 903-434-8115 or visit†ntcc.edu/foundation.
