Martha Kirby Farrar and her husband, Dr. Ken Farrar, of Cobb County, have gifted $26,000 to establish a new endowed scholarship for nursing students at Chattahoochee Technical College. The Gladys Lorene Thomas Kirby Memorial Endowed Scholarship is in memory of Martha’s mother, who graduated from the college in 1969 with a diploma in practical nursing.
“Mom went back to school in her forties and then worked as a nurse in order to help pay for our college education,” said Martha. “She chose nursing because she had experience in being a caregiver and wanted to join a profession that was meaningful to her and others.”
This new endowed scholarship for Chattahoochee Tech nursing students will allow for a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded each year in perpetuity, according to Chattahoochee Tech Advancement Coordinator Amanda Henderson. “We thank Martha and Dr. Farrar for their tremendous generosity,” said Henderson. “We also think it is very special for Martha’s mother to be honored with a scholarship at the same college where she earned her nursing diploma.”
After completing her nursing education, Gladys Lorene Thomas Kirby worked for many years at Kennestone Hospital. She worked on many different floors of the hospital, on both day and night shifts. She passed away in October at the age of 94. For more than 60 years, she was married to the late Robert Lee Kirby, a World War II veteran. They had two daughters, Martha Kirby Farrar and Pauline Kirby Camp.
“Mom was a firm believer in education for current and future generations,” said Martha. “I could think of no greater tribute to her than to establish an endowed scholarship to provide funds for education for generations to come.”
The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation will administer this scholarship on behalf of the college. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation supports the mission of Chattahoochee Tech by making higher education an affordable reality for students.
