A foundation honoring a prominent Atlanta businesswoman has once again awarded Brenau funding to support student scholarships this year.
“The scholarship funding received from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation is used to offset the cost of tuition, which helps students focus on academic success rather than finances,” Brenau Director of External Grants Stefan Schulze said. “This year, awards were distributed to more than 55 students.”
One 2021-22 scholarship recipient is Elise Booth, a sophomore nursing major who aspires to be an ICU travel nurse.
“This scholarship allows me to focus on my studies and the overall college experience,” she said. “Being a recipient is a constant reminder of how important it is to never take education for granted, and to therefore make the most of the educational opportunities here at Brenau. I feel obligated to try my best, stay motivated to do well in my classes, and have been able to take part in experiences that will help me stay on top of my goals.”
The foundation was created in honor of Lettie Pate Whitehead, a philanthropist and businesswoman who led the fledgling Coca-Cola Bottling Co. after her husband’s death at age 42 in 1906. A member of the Coca-Cola Co. board of directors for nearly 20 years, she became one of the first women to serve on the board of a major American corporation when appointed in 1934 by Robert W. Woodruff. She was active in higher education, serving several colleges and universities in the South, and supported numerous charities during her lifetime and through the bequeath of her estate
“The story and legacy of Mrs. Whitehead should inspire the young women who benefit from the foundation’s scholarship,” Schulze said. “When Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars are faced with the challenges of life, perhaps they can look back at Mrs. Whitehead’s journey and draw inspiration. We can overcome adversity, we can succeed and we can achieve our professional dreams with hard work, ambition and dedication.”
The Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarship is awarded to Christian female students in the South. The selection of students at Brenau and amount each student receives is determined by Brenau’s Financial Aid Office each year, according to Schulze.
The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation provides scholarships for girls and women at 196 schools, seven of which are women’s colleges. Whitehead Evans, who died in 1953, also established the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation in 1945.
