Carol Waldman believed every child deserved someone to believe in them. As a teacher at Liberty-Benton, the same school she once attended as a child and retired from just this year, she poured herself into students who often felt overlooked. She worked with children who struggled to read, who didn’t test well, who weren’t always recognized, and she showed them they were capable, worthy, and loved.

To honor her life and carry forward her mission, we are creating the Carol Waldman Memorial Scholarship and Mentorship Program. This program will look beyond test scores and grades. It will invest in students and young people who may have struggled in school, who may have faced “desirable difficulties” in their past, but who carry resilience, creativity, and drive that cannot be measured on a report card. These are the same kinds of students Carol devoted her life to, the ones she saw greatness in when others overlooked them.

The fund will be flexible, just as Carol was in how she encouraged her students. It could support traditional schooling, but also a business or non-profit idea, a mission trip, or another opportunity that helps a young person grow and make a difference. In addition to financial support, each recipient will receive mentorship, encouragement, and guidance, just like Carol gave every day in her classroom.

This vision was one Carol and her son had dreamed about in recent years, and now it becomes her legacy. Her life was an open hymn of faith, joy, and generosity, and through this fund, her influence will continue to change lives for years to come.

Every gift, big or small, helps us carry her legacy forward. We are deeply thankful for every prayer, every word of encouragement, and every contribution that allows us to honor Carol’s passion for students and extend her impact for years to come.