Fund Spotlight: Evelyn Hanshaw Scholarship Fund
If you asked long-time educator Evelyn Hanshaw to describe her ideal student, she probably wouldn’t pick someone with straight A’s and perfect attendance. Resilience, leadership, and perseverance mattered most to her, especially at the middle school named after her in south Modesto.
“Mrs. Hanshaw was mesmerized by the resilience of the students in her school,” said Evelyn Hanshaw Middle School’s first principal, Charles Vidal. “It took more than a GPA to break out of the challenges and barriers confronting you each day living in south Modesto. It took character.”
In the south side of Modesto, a neighborhood shaped by both struggle and strength, Hanshaw Middle School stands out as a steady presence – offering students a safe space to focus on learning and prepare for the next steps in their education. Evelyn’s deep commitment to these students extended well beyond her years as an educator.
When she passed away in 2005, Charles, who is also the executor of her estate, established a scholarship fund with money Evelyn had bequeathed to award deserving graduates of her namesake school to go to college. Since she had no children of her own, these students were her children and her gift was, in a way, her college savings account for them.
“The students at Hanshaw Middle School are smart – and not just book smart – street smart,” Charles said. “They have extracted an intelligence from the challenges and circumstances they were born into and, as Mrs. Hanshaw described to me, with a little financial boost can go the distance.”
Over nearly two decades, that financial boost has totaled more than $340,000, helping over 480 students attend two- and four-year colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
One of those students is Vanessa, a 2024 scholarship recipient, who is passionate about becoming an educator. “From a young age, I have always wanted to build a career in education. I plan on attending CSU Stanislaus with a major in Biological Sciences. I also plan on enrolling in their credential program to pursue my dream of teaching sciences at a high school level and later follow with teaching AVID. My desire to work in education is primarily motivated by the chance to influence and shape the minds of upcoming generations. By pursuing this career in education, I hope to make a positive impact on the lives of students and inspire a love for learning.”
As the Evelyn Hanshaw scholars grow in number and experience, Charles asks for one favor in return – to go back to their alma mater as role models for younger generations living in south Modesto and serve as a reminder that resilience can lead to a boundless future.