The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Foundation recently partnered with a local family that wanted to honor its family matriarch in a special way.
The children and grandchildren of Eleanor Loretta Alvey, 81, of Mechanicsville and her late husband, Carroll Louis “Johnny” Alvey Sr., gathered at CSM’s Leonardtown Campus to publicly recognize the couple’s contributions to the community and their commitment to CSM’s mission as the family members and college and foundation representatives dedicated two bricks in a ceremony.
But the Alvey family had a surprise set up to further honor Loretta Alvey, who has inspired the family, worked for it and held it together since their father’s death in 1984 when he was only 52. The family announced at the brick ceremony that a CSM scholarship had been created in their mother’s name — the Eleanor Loretta Alvey Endowed Scholarship.
The scholarship, donated by the Alvey family — Alvey Jr., Terry Sue Alvey, Bonnie Joe Payne, William Roger Alvey Sr., Marlon Rodney Alvey and Roxanne Loretta Keeting — is designed to provide at least $1,000 a year to a deserving returning student who lives in St. Mary’s County and has at least one child at home. The intent is to find a student whose current situation closely mimicked Loretta Alvey’s situation while she was trying to complete her own education.
The new scholarship’s first recipient, Shekera Grayson, of Lexington Park, was also announced at the brick ceremony. Grayson is a business major at CSM who plans to pursue a management career, preferably at a medical facility, with hopes of helping medical organizations give effective and efficient care to its patients. She is a single parent of four children and will graduate in January 2020.
According to her children, Loretta Alvey never once complained, Murphy said, noting that Loretta Alvey’s perseverance showed her children and grandchildren that they could do anything if they worked for it.
Loretta Alvey was “stunned … and then deeply appreciative” of her children’s gift to honor her, Johnny Alvey Jr. said, describing her reaction a few weeks later.
During the brick dedication ceremony, it was noted that Johnny Alvey Sr. served in the United States Army and then returned to work as a driver for Leonardtown Dairy. He worked hard to advance from driver to businessman, serving the tri-county area as a Sealtest Distributor – a business that his son Billy continues to grow after his passing.
CSM supports and recognizes “how we create community together, each of us playing a part,” said Murphy before dedicating the brick to Johnny Alvey Sr’s memory.
Bricks are purchased through the CSM Foundation by family members and friends and the proceeds go toward the foundation’s general scholarship fund to assist CSM students. The Alveys’ bricks will be installed next to each other outside of the Wellness & Aquatics Center at the Leonardtown Campus.
Annual scholarships can be established with the CSM Foundation with a minimum gift of $1,000 to help part-time students or at $3,200 for full-time students. Unlike an endowed scholarship, an annual scholarship is not a permanent fund and is awarded in the subsequent academic year that the funds are donated. Endowed scholarships like the Eleanor Loretta Alvey Endowed Scholarship can be established with a minimum gift of $15,000. Endowed scholarship funds are designed to be permanent and perpetual. You can contribute to an endowed scholarship in full when you set up the scholarship or with an initial commitment that you contribute to over time.
The Alvey family was “absolutely thrilled and proud of being able to do this in her name,” Johnny Alvey Jr. said of his mother’s scholarship.
To establish a scholarship or to get more information, contact CSM Development Director Chelsea Clute at 301-934-7649 or email CSMFoundation@csmd.edu.
A Family’s Love Letter to Mom
The full script of Johnny Alvey’s speech:
“Mom,
Loretta Alvey
You’ve endured many years of hazardous duty, raising your sons and daughters (and I would say more about that, but the statute of limitations isn’t up for some of us yet). You help raise your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, friends, neighbors, neighbor’s children. You’ve worked a lifetime to support us, caring for us, encouraging us, protecting us, loving us. You have never wanted, expected or accepted anything in return. You never let us help you with much. You are an extremely independent lady.
So, we think we’ve come up with another way to show you our appreciation that we hope will bring you joy.
We, your family, in collaboration with the CSM Foundation, have established a fully endowed college scholarship in your name.
So – every year, forever – some deserving person, will be given some much-needed support and a financial hug from our “nanny” to help fulfill their dreams.
We love you very much.”
You may be also interested in reading:
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 3 to celebrate student success by showing your generosity on #GivingTuesday, a 24-hour online giving event. Last year, the CSM Foundation raised more than $136,000 from more than 270, friends, alums, and community members.
Choose CSM this year and champion student success! Your support will assist CSM students working toward degrees, certificates, or the mastery of a new skill set. Gifts of every size, contributed on #GivingTuesday by people like you, will help change lives here at home in Southern Maryland.
The children and grandchildren of Eleanor Loretta Alvey, 81, of Mechanicsville and her late husband, Carroll Louis “Johnny” Alvey Sr., gathered at CSM’s Leonardtown Campus to publicly recognize the couple’s contributions to the community and their commitment to CSM’s mission as the family members and college and foundation representatives dedicated two bricks in a ceremony.But the Alvey family had a surprise set up to further honor Loretta Alvey, who has inspired the family, worked for it and held it together since their father’s death in 1984 when he was only 52. The family announced at the brick ceremony that a CSM scholarship had been created in their mother’s name — the Eleanor Loretta Alvey Endowed Scholarship.
The scholarship, donated by the Alvey family — Alvey Jr., Terry Sue Alvey, Bonnie Joe Payne, William Roger Alvey Sr., Marlon Rodney Alvey and Roxanne Loretta Keeting — is designed to provide at least $1,000 a year to a deserving returning student who lives in St. Mary’s County and has at least one child at home. The intent is to find a student whose current situation closely mimicked Loretta Alvey’s situation while she was trying to complete her own education.
The new scholarship’s first recipient, Shekera Grayson, of Lexington Park, was also announced at the brick ceremony. Grayson is a business major at CSM who plans to pursue a management career, preferably at a medical facility, with hopes of helping medical organizations give effective and efficient care to its patients. She is a single parent of four children and will graduate in January 2020.
According to her children, Loretta Alvey never once complained, Murphy said, noting that Loretta Alvey’s perseverance showed her children and grandchildren that they could do anything if they worked for it.
Loretta Alvey was “stunned … and then deeply appreciative” of her children’s gift to honor her, Johnny Alvey Jr. said, describing her reaction a few weeks later.
During the brick dedication ceremony, it was noted that Johnny Alvey Sr. served in the United States Army and then returned to work as a driver for Leonardtown Dairy. He worked hard to advance from driver to businessman, serving the tri-county area as a Sealtest Distributor – a business that his son Billy continues to grow after his passing.
CSM supports and recognizes “how we create community together, each of us playing a part,” said Murphy before dedicating the brick to Johnny Alvey Sr’s memory.
Bricks are purchased through the CSM Foundation by family members and friends and the proceeds go toward the foundation’s general scholarship fund to assist CSM students. The Alveys’ bricks will be installed next to each other outside of the Wellness & Aquatics Center at the Leonardtown Campus.
Annual scholarships can be established with the CSM Foundation with a minimum gift of $1,000 to help part-time students or at $3,200 for full-time students. Unlike an endowed scholarship, an annual scholarship is not a permanent fund and is awarded in the subsequent academic year that the funds are donated. Endowed scholarships like the Eleanor Loretta Alvey Endowed Scholarship can be established with a minimum gift of $15,000. Endowed scholarship funds are designed to be permanent and perpetual. You can contribute to an endowed scholarship in full when you set up the scholarship or with an initial commitment that you contribute to over time.
The Alvey family was “absolutely thrilled and proud of being able to do this in her name,” Johnny Alvey Jr. said of his mother’s scholarship.
To establish a scholarship or to get more information, contact CSM Development Director Chelsea Clute at 301-934-7649 or email CSMFoundation@csmd.edu.
A Family’s Love Letter to Mom
The full script of Johnny Alvey’s speech:
“Mom,
Loretta Alvey
You’ve endured many years of hazardous duty, raising your sons and daughters (and I would say more about that, but the statute of limitations isn’t up for some of us yet). You help raise your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, friends, neighbors, neighbor’s children. You’ve worked a lifetime to support us, caring for us, encouraging us, protecting us, loving us. You have never wanted, expected or accepted anything in return. You never let us help you with much. You are an extremely independent lady.
So, we think we’ve come up with another way to show you our appreciation that we hope will bring you joy.
- For your love and devotion to your family, and your unselfish life.
- In recognition of the sacrifices you have made over many years to ensure the health and happiness of your family, both biological and extended.
- Because you’re a woman of extraordinary strength and heart, and a loving and positive influence to your family and a shining example of good to others. Who encourages us to achieve whatever is important in our lives.
- Because you raise us up when we’re down and rejoice in our successes.
- Because you’ve overcome hardships and “against the odds” achieved an education, which helped you grow as a person and citizen of the world.
We, your family, in collaboration with the CSM Foundation, have established a fully endowed college scholarship in your name.
So – every year, forever – some deserving person, will be given some much-needed support and a financial hug from our “nanny” to help fulfill their dreams.
We love you very much.”
You may be also interested in reading:
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 3 to celebrate student success by showing your generosity on #GivingTuesday, a 24-hour online giving event. Last year, the CSM Foundation raised more than $136,000 from more than 270, friends, alums, and community members.
Choose CSM this year and champion student success! Your support will assist CSM students working toward degrees, certificates, or the mastery of a new skill set. Gifts of every size, contributed on #GivingTuesday by people like you, will help change lives here at home in Southern Maryland.