Ruth Fountain Heard Scholarship and Josephine Baxter Endowed Scholarship

Why did you choose to create a scholarship at Auburn University?
Because I love Auburn, I wanted to provide scholarships as they had been provided for me in college, and wanted to honor important and influential people in my life.

What would you want the recipients of this scholarship to know about the person for whom it is named?
I was Professor of History Emeritus and these scholarships were named for the aunts who reared me and always encouraged me to the very best I could.

Tell us about your Auburn story, favorite tradition, a “War Eagle!” moment, or what Auburn has meant to you.
Auburn has been my home for 40 years, and I have taught many thousands of Auburn students. I have run into former students for that “War Eagle” moment in New York and many other places as well.

What do you hope your recipients gain through this scholarship?
I would hope to boost the opportunities for those students who choose to attend Auburn and major in history.