A Grayson County High School student has been awarded the 2021 Phyllis Minton Endowed Memorial Fund Scholarship to attend a residential camp at Western Kentucky University designed for gifted students.
Maggie Cox, a rising sophomore at GCHS, was recently awarded the scholarship to attend VAMPY, a three-week residential camp held in June and July.
“VAMPY offers high-ability students who have completed grades 7–10 the chance to focus on one course during six class hours each weekday plus a nightly hour-long study hall,” the school’s website says. “Classes are taught by highly motivated WKU faculty and high school teachers who are thrilled to have equally highly motivated students.”
“Obviously, the opportunity it gives gifted youth to study in a specialized class with a very qualified teacher is amazing as it is,” Cox said. “However, the environment of people it creates makes the whole camp. You’ll always feel accepted and appreciated by everyone who you encounter and people will make marks on your heart that will never fade.”
VAMPY, according to the Minton family, is a program Phyllis helped numerous students attend during her many years as a teacher at GCHS.
Phyllis, 63, a long-time math teacher, was tragically killed on September 28, 2018, when her vehicle was struck by a train at an unprotected railroad crossing near the intersection of Black Rock Drive and Beaver Dam Road. The Phyllis Minton Endowed Memorial Fund was established in 2019 to forever honor her life as a “beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and educator,” her family said. “Educating the youth of Grayson County was very near and dear to her heart.”
“Phyllis Minton left an indelible impression on those she touched, through her passion for both math and for kids,” Superintendent Doug Robinson said. “She had a powerful impact on the lives of so many, and the continued opportunity this scholarship provides will allow her legacy to live on.”
In wake of her passing, the Minton family wanted to establish a way to pay tribute to Phyllis’s life. Therefore, in lieu of flowers or sympathy gifts the family established a scholarship fund and requested donations be made to the fund.
“In doing so, Phyllis’s memory, honoring her dedication to education and generosity, may be shared for years to come with the youth of our community,” the Minton family said.
The memorial fund is administered by the WKU Foundation and supports young people who wish to attend programming at The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU. Multiple programs are offered through The Center to appeal to curious and high achieving students from kindergarten through their senior year.
“Maggie’s passion is music. She plays the bass and sings in her own band. She also enjoys long days hanging out with friends,” the Minton family said regarding the selection of Maggie for the scholarship. “Maggie was an obvious choice given her personal qualities of character, integrity, dependability, and human compassion. All of which produces a leader and merits the honor of the award.”
The Minton family thanks Maggie for applying for the scholarship and wishes her only the best in her future endeavors.
WKU, Phyllis’ alma mater, continues to accept donations towards the fund. The family wishes to thank to everyone who has previously contributed to the scholarship fund.
Anyone who would like to honor Phyllis’s life and support Grayson County’s youth may donate to the fund at alumni.wku.edu/phyllismintonfund.
(Photo l-r: Phyllis Minton’s daughter, Kim Pennington, Maggie Cox, Phyllis Minton’s husband, Kenneth Minton, courtesy of the Minton family)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
