University establishes Mavis F. Broome Endowed Scholarship Fund

The family of Mavis F. Broome - a longtime resident of Williamsburg, public school teacher and University of the Cumberlands (UC) professor - has established an endowed scholarship fund in her honor.

The Mavis F. Broome Scholarship will be awarded annually to one UC senior hailing from the local area who is majoring in education, with a special education emphasis. The first scholarship recipient will be awarded at UC’s Honor’s Day this spring.

Mrs. Broome taught elementary and special education in the McCreary County public school system for 27 years. She also taught special education night courses at UC (then Cumberland College) for approximately 10 of those years, sometimes teaching courses even on weekends.

“We would hope that those who receive the scholarship would have the same kind of determination to do well with their students,” said Dr. John Broome, Mavis’s husband.

Dr. Broome began his teaching career at UC in 1966, retired from full time teaching in 1999, but then worked in various capacities with the college until retiring fully in 2014. In total, he worked for the school for 48 years. The couple has three daughters -  Kim White, Erica Harris, and Shelleigh Moses - all of whom graduated from UC and currently live in the area with their husbands, who are also UC graduates. Mavis is also survived by eight grandchildren.

The scholarship amount will be $500 and will be granted to a candidate from Whitley, McCreary, Knox, Laurel, or Bell County. The Broome family hopes that, through the scholarship, special education majors at UC will be encouraged to pursue their passion and receive assistance managing the finances associated with attending college.

“The less financial stress they feel, the better they generally do, I think,” said Dr. Broome. “We just want to help somebody.”

“She cared very deeply for her students,” said daughter Erica Harris. “It takes a special person to work with children with special needs. She recognized that for sure, and she was one of those special people. We just felt like [the new scholarship] would be a great way to help others – to encourage others to follow that path.”

The University is deeply grateful for the family's generosity, as well as the generosity of everyone who has contributed to the Mavis F. Broome Endowed Scholarship Fund. Because of this scholarship, numerous students studying special education will receive encouragement and aid to help them fulfill their callings.  

Learn more about the Mavis F. Broome Endowed Scholarship Fund by visiting ucomberlands.edu/give.

Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction offering quality undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online degree programs. Learn more at ucumberlands.edu.