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Smith, Cecil C. and Bettie I. Smith Scholarship Fund
$3,000.00
This is a 4-year renewable scholarship for two (2) East Noble High School seniors who are in the top 50% of their class. Students must be pursuing a teaching degree, accounting, or exercise science, prioritized in that order. Award amount will be $3,000 each year for four years. Students must continue to pursue the field of study as indicated (and not change) and maintain a 3.00 GPA while in college and submit required paperwork to the CFNC to receive continued award payments. (CFNC) Updated with new criteria 2/2024
Donor Fund Story:
A New Legacy for Noble County Created!
Cecil C. Smith and Bettie I. Smith formerly of Kendallville, Indiana. Cecil Smith earned his degree from Ball State University in 1939 and married Bettie Kizer Smith in 1940, also a graduate of Ball State University. Cecil taught school in Fort Recovery, Ohio and then taught business classes at Rome City High School, all before starting his own public accounting business in Kendallville. His wife Bettie, also taught school in the area of health and physical education for 20 years beginning at Kendallville High School in 1957. Cecil and Bettie lived on a farm north of Kendallville since 1954. Cecil passed in February of 1995 and Bette passed away in December of 2009. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had a daughter Sandra Smith Fields of Oregon who passed away in 2013.
The legacy bestowed upon the community foundation is an endowed named scholarship fund to benefit a graduating senior/s from East Noble School Corporation. It is always a blessed day when we receive a phone call from a local attorney, such as Daniel Diggins, Atty., sharing the terrific news of a substantial gift, over $500,000 benefitting our upcoming graduates at East Noble.
Mr. Steve Pyle, a longtime friend of the Smith’s, was happy to share some details of their character and integrity and the Smiths love for education. Steve Pyle upon graduation went to work for Cecil Smith in his accounting firm for a couple of years and began working on his CPA certificate while pursuing other dreams and goals. Out of the blue, some ten years later he received a call from Cecil to purchase the firm that Mr. Smith created. “It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I had always admired the work ethic of Mr. Cecil Smith”, Pyle stated. He added, “Cecil stayed on for a few years to assist in the transition. Then upon his death I continued to assist Bette Smith with her financial affairs and taxes.” Steve Pyle continued to comment, “Cecil was a mentor to me and I always looked up to him. I recall some of the many little tricks that Cecil and Merritt Diggins would play on each other, making for an interesting work environment.” Steve also remembered Cecil and Bettie’s lifetime interest in education and that while going to college life was pretty skinny for them and they both worked very hard to get through school in tough economic times. Cecil was known to many throughout the county as a savvy businessman and community supporter.
