Dr. Pami Taylor has many fond memories of her parents. L’Dora, a teacher, was strict but encouraging, fun and bright. Charles, a ship pilot, was also encouraging, Taylor said, as well as funny and light-hearted. Taylor remembers her parents as being very loving toward her and her brother, both of whom they adopted.

Taylor chose to honor her parents’ memory through an endowed memorial scholarship, established in 2012 to support aspiring teachers in the College of Human Sciences & Education. “I wish more people thought more of their teachers and encouraged more people to be teachers,” she said. “I believe we should support teachers.”

The L’Dora McKenzie Taylor and Charles Harlan Taylor Scholarship is awarded to female undergraduate students pursuing a teaching career with a GPA of at least 3.0.

Taylor said she wanted to support LSU students through this scholarship because it can be difficult for students to attend college. “I think state schools are great and are affordable,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

Published in Cornerstone Summer and Fall 2013.