Cowells create Marion Tech scholarship to support Harding information technology students – The Marion Star
A Marion couple is giving local students a hand up through a new scholarship fund for Marion Technical College.
The Tammi and Rob Cowell Scholarship will be awarded to a second-year information technology student who graduated from Harding High School.
“We were surprised that there wasn’t a scholarship for Harding students yet,” Rob Cowell said. “It’s exciting to be able to do. I love Marion Tech.”
Tammi Cowell is a Distinguished Alumni for Harding High School. She also is a member of Marion Tech’s Alumni Hall of Fame. She serves as the treasurer and chief financial officer of Tri-Rivers Career Center.
She used scholarships and tuition reimbursement to graduate from Marion Tech debt free. Now, the Cowells are helping other local students.
“We are pleased to do it,” Tammi Cowell said. “I’m proud of the close-knit community. I grew up here. I got an education here. I want to give back here.”
Rob Cowell graduated from Ridgedale. He served as a firefighter for 38 years as well as the safety director. The couple has seen Marion change and grow over the years.
“It was awesome. I love my job,” Rob Cowell said. “Marion is resilient.”
Rob Cowell worked on a farm in during high school and trained as a paramedic at Tri-Rivers.
As a young, working mother, Tammi Cowell found Marion Tech was a great place to start her education.
As coworkers encouraged her continue her education, she found a transfer program where she could take two years at Marion Tech and two years at Mount Vernon Nazarene University to earn a bachelor’s degree. She earned a master’s degree at MVNU as her career advanced.
“Marion Tech was a great place to start,” Tammi Cowell said. “You don’t have to stop. It was easy to transfer and it was a great cost.”
“Marion Tech is a springboard,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, college president. “It has flexible, convenient options to meet your needs, especially for working parents. Our average student age is 27.”
The Cowells’ children, who attended Marion Tech, are back in Marion. One is a teacher.
Tammi Cowell has been active with Marion Tech, serving as an advisory committee member for the business program for many years.
“I carry the values of resilience, respect, and small-town strength in everything I do,” Tammi Cowell said.
Ellen Messenger has known the Cowells for more than 30 years. After retiring from Tri-Rivers, Messenger serves as the vice president of the Marion Tech Foundation Board of Directors, which oversees the scholarship program.
“They always have a heart for students and want them to succeed,” Messenger said. “Tammi’s always trying to make things work for students. This is another way for her to help students. I hope this scholarship fund grows.”
“I appreciate Tammi and Rob’s advocacy for Marion Tech,” said Mike Stuckey, director of the Marion Technical College Foundation. “It’s genuine and from the heart. This is a generous way to help students in need succeed.”
The first scholarship will be awarded this fall. To donate or learn about the many scholarships available at Marion Tech, go to MTC Foundation.
