July 1, 2004

(Dallas) - Six Dallas-area residents will attend schools in the Dallas County Community College District during the 2004-2005 academic year, thanks to the support of the late Dallas business and civic leader Reece A. Overcash. The DCCCD Foundation annually recognizes recipients of the Reece A. Overcash Endowed Scholarship Fund, which pays tribute to and honors the legacy of the former CEO whose company, The Associates (which later merged with Citigroup in 2000), grew to become a leading financial services provider in the United States and abroad.

The scholarship recipients are either employees (full-time or part-time legacy Associates employees or company subsidiaries) or their legal dependents. Company employees who apply for the scholarship must have at least one year of active employment. Applicants also must have a high school diploma and a minimum 3.0 grade point average or a "B" average, and they must enroll in at least six credit hours at one of DCCCD's seven colleges. Recipients are chosen by a special selection committee that includes representatives from the Overcash family and the DCCCD Foundation. Since the endowed fund was created, approximately 50 scholarships have been awarded.

Students are awarded up to $1,000 per academic year, or $500 per semester for a maximum of six semesters. The recipients and their general areas of study are:

Sherman Avant, Brookhaven College, organizational management;
LaShunda Comeaux, Cedar Valley College, nursing;
Todd Hill, North Lake College, political science;
Carol McCain, Brookhaven College, nursing;
Elise Rae Shipley, Brookhaven College, elementary education; and
Anna Williams, North Lake College, business management.

The DCCCD Foundation, which administers the permanent endowment, is renewing scholarships for Hill and McCain; the other four students are new recipients. In 1996, the Reece A. Overcash Scholarship was endowed through contributions from Christa Overcash, wife of the former CEO; The Associates; and A.H. Belo Corporation. For details, contact Kathye Hammontree, DCCCD Foundation, at 214.860.2455.