2024 CFNRV AR_FINAL_FB

UNCONVENTIONAL PRESENT FOR AN UNCONVENTIONAL TEACHER The Jane Ann Wells Scholarship Fund

Jane Ann Wells in her classroom, circa 2006.

Husband Surprises His Wife by Setting Up Scholarship

Ann was getting ready to retire,” said Charlie, who shared that he and Jane Ann often discussed children in her class who might not have the resources to attend college someday. “Talking about these kids primed the idea for a fund that would provide students with a financial avenue to achieve those educational goals.” Finding Ways to Help Those With Potential Jane Ann and Charlie know what a difference higher education can make in a person’s life. They both came from families that didn’t have a lot of money but valued education. Jane Ann added that her family’s prospects only improved after her parents were able to further their education. When the idea for the fund occurred to Charlie, he reached out to Shelley Brumenthal, a guidance counselor at Blacksburg High School, with whom Charlie had worked for many years. When Charlie shared his idea,

“It’s the greatest gift I have ever received in my life,” said Jane Ann Wells. For Christmas in 2023, Jane Ann’s husband, Charlie Gregory, came up with a unique surprise for his wife of 46 years: he created a scholarship in her honor to benefit Montgomery County students pursuing higher education. Making it an even more special gift, Charlie asked the CFNRV team to be sure to include a specific criterion for selecting scholarship students. The scholarship gives preference to students that attended Prices Fork Elementary School, particularly those who had Jane Ann as a teacher. Jane Ann taught at Prices Fork for 23 years, retiring in 2022.

“The idea was something I thought about back when Jane

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THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE NEW RIVER VALLEY