Passing it on

Marjorie Henton inspired hundreds as a teacher; her scholarship will inspire generations more.

Marjorie Henton

Marjorie Henton taught 38 years at State Street Elementary School in Topeka, retiring in 1993. The children she taught and inspired are part of the reason she has a gift in her estate for Washburn University scholarships.

Marjorie, ba '54, taught mostly second and third grades, and saw three generations of some families come through her classrooms. She especially remembers families that emigrated from Mexico. By the time the third generations of those families made it through grade school, education beyond that was expected.

"The first group from those families got through the eighth grade and thought that was quite an accomplishment," Marjorie said. "The last group I had aspired to college. So, a lot changed."

Marjorie also came from a family where the previous generation wanted better for the next. Her father died months before her brother, George Henton, bs '55, was born, and their mother raised them both with an expectation to go to college. Marjorie knew she wouldn't be able to fulfill this dream without a scholarship, and she knew it would be difficult to earn one, especially since an illness one year in high school affected her grades.

"I didn't think I'd get a scholarship. I was interviewing for jobs, going to save my money and then go to college," she said. "Somebody turned down a scholarship at the last minute, so I got to go, and that's what I want to do for someone else. I think of those children I taught wanting to go to college, and that's what made me think of supporting scholarships."

Marjorie attended Washburn knowing she wanted to teach. She studied English and psychology, and later earned a master's degree in education from another school. At State Street, she enjoyed seeing the children get excited about learning. After her career, she and her brother, George, moved to a retirement community on the beach in La Jolla, California. George passed away in 2016. She remembers her mother's dream to see them both go to college.

"My mother was always afraid she wouldn't see us through college because she had heart trouble," Marjorie said. "The funny part of it was, she lived to be 96 and we were retiring."

The decision to award Marjorie with a scholarship 70 years ago paid off with the hundreds of lives she touched as a teacher. She hopes the Marjorie Henton Scholarship, which will be funded by a gift in her estate, will allow students to fulfill their college dreams and live amazing lives.

"I was just always very grateful I got a scholarship and got to go. It made for a lifetime of pleasure," Marjorie said. "I hope my scholarship goes to students who are willing to pass it on. That's the main thing, to get a good education and pass it on to your children or someone else."

Support What Matters Most to You

You can make a difference at Washburn with a future gift to Washburn University Foundation like Marjorie did. Contact Erin Aldridge at PlannedGiving@wualumni.org or 785.670.4483 to learn about your giving options.