The late Clifford L. Johnson of the Chappell, Nebraska, area
By George Ledbetter
A scholarship fund created almost 20 years ago with a gift from Clifford L. Johnson, a farmer in the Chappell, Nebraska, area, has helped 95 Chadron State College students reach their educational goals, including 18 who received scholarships from the endowment in the 2020-21 school year.
Clifford was born near Chappell in 1921, attended a one-room country school for elementary education and graduated from Deuel County High School in 1939.
He lived on the family farm for 50 years, growing primarily wheat, millet, oats and sunflowers. He died July 30, 2018.
Clifford began donations to The Chadron State Foundation in 1994 with a gift of mutual funds worth about $23,000. He was honored at the CSC President's Luncheon that year in what may have been his only visit to the campus.
Clifford's donation created an endowed scholarship in his name to be awarded to students with a 3.0 grade point average or better who graduated from high schools in Cheyenne, Garden, Deuel or Keith counties in Nebraska, with a preference for students in the education program. The first scholarships from the endowment were awarded in 1995.
Clifford's regular contributions to the scholarship fund continued in the years before his passing, says Ben Watson, CEO of The Chadron State Foundation, and he left an additional donation in his estate. The endowment now includes more than $700,000 in principal, with a total value of more than $830,000.
Scholarships provided from the earnings generated by Clifford's endowment have made a significant difference for many Chadron State students.
"You have helped ease my financial worry, which will allow me to focus more on my studies. Your generosity and kindness have inspired me to want to help others and give back to my community," a recent scholarship recipient wrote.
Help Students Achieve Their Dreams
Like Clifford, you can create a lasting legacy by including a gift in your estate plan to benefit Chadron State students for generations to come. Contact Ben Watson at 308-432-7007 or bwatson@csc.edu to learn more.