For nearly five decades, Hart and Sara Goodson have lived next door to Southwestern Community College.
Their children grew up exploring and playing on SCC’s campus. The Goodson’s have seen Southwestern grow from two buildings to nine (with a 10th set to open this summer), and they’ve personally known all but one of the college’s presidents.
Before moving to the central part of the state in February, the Goodsons created an endowed fund through the SCC Foundation as a legacy that will support generations of students at the college that’s become a big part of their lives. The Hart and Sara Goodson Endowed Scholarship will be awarded annually to Jackson County residents who maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
“We’ve lived by SCC for 46 years, and we’ve had a good relationship the whole time,” Sara Goodson said. “We’d just like to show that appreciation.”
The Goodsons, who owned Country Classic Real Estate before retiring, have actively engaged with Southwestern over the years.
Hart Goodson took all his real estate classes at SCC, and Sara frequently took advantage of the manicures offered by the college’s Cosmetology program. When their children were young, Sara would bring them to the Cosmetology program as well.
By endowing the scholarship, the Goodson’s aim to pay it forward for the next generation.
“I’m hoping that somebody will get a better education,” Hart Goodson said. “Our main impetus was that we want to make it possible for some people who couldn’t otherwise go to college.”
Dr. Don Tomas, Southwestern’s President, said new endowments like the Hart and Sara Goodson Endowed Scholarship Fund are a huge reason the SCC Foundation set all-time records by awarding support of more than $200,000 to 142 students in the current academic year.
“We’re extremely fortunate to have such great neighbors and friends like the Goodsons,” Dr. Tomas said. “We’re happy for them as they start the next chapter of their lives, though we are sorry to see them move away. This gift they are providing to our students says so much about Hart and Sara Goodson. They’ve seen how SCC can change lives, and they want to make sure even more students have that opportunity in the future.”
To support students or learn more about the SCC Foundation, please visit www.SouthwesternCC.edu/Foundation.
