The Alfred & Gladys Redwine Legacy Scholarship
The Gladys and Alfred Redwine Legacy Scholarship for STEM Careers
Gladys Redwine (née Cooper) and Alfred Redwine both attended the Jackson School K-12, which at the time was the only school for Black students in Tyler, TX. They both had the same philosophy regarding education, that having a good education is something that no one can take away from you.
They followed different paths but faced the same obstacles. Both of my grandparents attended Texas College, a Historically Black College located in Tyler. My grandmother graduated with a BA in Education and my grandfather a BA in Mathematics. Even though they achieved the goal of an education, they faced plenty of the discrimination from others to find a job in their desired field.
My grandmother was unable to find a job in her field due to racism and worked as a nurses’ aide. After eight years, she landed a job as a teacher’s aide at Griffin Elementary School but was told she needed to receive her master’s degree in order to teach students. She packed up her family and moved to California to attend Pepperdine University, moved back to Tyler where they were forced to give her a teaching position. She taught elementary school until she retired.
My grandfather's past was also fraught with obstacles which he overcame. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, he was drafted to the Army. When his enlistment ended, he returned to Tyler and started his family. Even with a degree and military service, he had a rough time finding employment. Eventually he began working for Tyler Pipe Foundry. After 15 years, he left this job and began his own trucking business. He also desired to work for the postal office. After 10 years of passing the exams and continually being denied, he was finally hired. He held this job for several years.
Their pursuit and tenacity to pursue their own personal and professional goals is why this scholarship is offered.