Vernice Perkins Short ’43 died in July of 2006.  She left all of earthly possessions to Midway so she could help fund scholarships so hundreds of other students could achieve their dreams of attending college.

Her story is special from a number of perspectives, but when you consider the difficult journey that Dr. Pinkerton and James Ware Parrish faced in raising the initial $25,000 endowment, which was required to open the doors of this institution, Vernice joins a legacy of hope. 

In those early years, the leaders were canvassing the community and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to find what Dr. Pinkerton termed "sacred" money, or endowment funds.  In the year 1850, those visionary leaders thought more than once that this endowment would never be secured.  Against the terms of the charter but through genuine dedication, creativity and the trustee’s using their own assets to back the students, the doors were open and young women were being educated. 

At the annual meeting of the Christian Church (DOC), where it was pointed out that no children should have been admitted until the endowment reached $25,000, the church nonetheless praised the school’s work and claimed that

“No institution could be presented to the brethren and to the churches for the exercise of their care and Christian benevolence more worthy than this.”

The committee issued a resolution calling on congregations to support this institution.

In this act, the college founders saw hope that their dreams could be fulfilled; the sacred endowment money would be raised. Midway’s purpose was too important to let the insufficient endowment funds impede its progress, but they needed that spark of hope.   Within two years and after some additional difficult times, the $25,000 was secured.   The power of hope continues today through the benevolence of Vernice Short.

In 2007, we embark on a similar journey to build the college endowment, and it is in the action of Vernice Short that we see hope.  Just as those before us, we look to this act of generosity with a sense of excitement that Midway’s purpose justifies our collective effort to build tomorrow’s endowment. 

Today, we provide approximately $1.5 million in scholarship support to young women but are only able to raise approximately $800,000 annually to fund these scholarships.  This funding gap must be filled long-term through an endowment that is double the current size.  This enlarged endowment will provide new scholarships, support faculty development and support the student experience.  

Vernice believed in the purpose of Midway, because Midway believed in her, and she was willing to put her life’s saving behind its mission.  In doing so she gives us all hope that Midway's purpose is worthy of these "sacred" funds. 

And so we begin the same journey as that of Dr. Pinkerton and James Ware Parrish to Endow Midway’s Purpose and to cultivate another generation of leaders with the same indelible character as Vernice Short’s. 

Do you believe that Midway has a purpose worthy of fulfilling? 

To learn how you can help contact: