Conroe ISD Education Foundation to hold scholarship dinner in honor of Dr. Don Stockton; Beloved superintendent to retire this summer

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- When Conroe ISD Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton announced his retirement in August 2017, scores of people and organizations sought to honor his service to Conroe ISD.

But, only one organization will have that opportunity, and it is one that truly embodies Dr. Stockton’s legacy more than any other.

“The Conroe ISD Education Foundation was a tremendous idea which had not been developed to its full advantage when Dr. Stockton decided it needed an overhaul. He envisioned the Foundation as a source for meeting the needs of a growing Conroe ISD, from student scholarships to teacher recruiting tools. His ideas are what fuel the imaginations of the Foundation Board as it continually seeks to meet the ever-changing needs of Conroe ISD,” explained Nelda Luce Blair, Chair of the CEF. “The Foundation is truly a major part of Dr. Don Stockton’s legacy, so it was only fitting that the Foundation be the host for a Scholarship Dinner honoring his entire legacy.”

Having held a scholarship breakfast featuring Dr. Stockton’s “The State of Conroe ISD” presentation for over a decade, the CEF has expanded the 2018 event to encompass a Scholarship Dinner, planned for Friday, May 18, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. The PBK firm, presenting patron for the breakfasts since inception, is the donor of the sole Presenting Patron sponsorship for the dinner.

“We wanted to be a key part of this event celebrating Dr, Stockton’s legacy,” stated Ian Powell of PBK. “And, when we learned that all proceeds will fund the new Don Stockton Legacy Scholarship, we were extremely pleased to contribute to that goal in a major way.”

The evening will feature a seated dinner, entertaining retrospectives of Dr. Stockton’s career, and a toast to his retirement future after a parting word from Stockton himself. All proceeds will provide funding for the CEF’s newly formed Don Stockton Legacy Scholarship, to be awarded according to future evolving needs for Conroe ISD.

Response has been tremendous according to CEF Executive Director Maris Blair. “We already have as many tables and tickets purchased as we do at the CEF annual breakfast, and the dinner is still almost a month away. But, we plan to make room for anyone in the region who wishes to buy a ticket. Dr. Stockton has positively affected the lives of so many people, and has had great influence on countless organizations, and the CEF dinner event is the optimal opportunity to honor him."

Maris Blair affirms that, as with past years, the CEF will award over 150 scholarships to CISD students and employees in 2018. “We always featured our scholarship winners at our past annual breakfasts, and we will definitely award a record number of scholarships this year. Yet, the specific purpose of this scholarship dinner is to honor Dr. Stockton upon his retirement and to raise funds for the new Don Stockton Legacy Scholarship. So, the entire evening will be geared toward that purpose,” she stated. “The Foundation is a charitable organization that operates solely on donated funds from businesses, private individuals, honorariums and memorials, and receives no tax dollars from Conroe ISD. So, this dinner event is very important to our new scholarship honoring Dr. Stockton.”

Maris Blair also acknowledged the Scholarship Dinner’s committed Silver Sponsors DLR Group, IBI Group/DBR Engineering Consultants, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, Marshall Construction, Entergy Texas and Buckalew Chevrolet, Champagne Toast Sponsor Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Bronze Sponsors The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, Exxon Mobil, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, BOK Financial Securities, Rogers, Morris & Grover, Durotech, and Dally + Associates, Cocktail Reception Sponsor First Financial Group of America, and Centerpiece Sponsor Hunton Andrews Kurth.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of each and every sponsor, and their participation in this exceptional evening honoring Dr. Don Stockton and initiating the Legacy Scholarship,” she said.

More information on the CEF can be found on its web site www.cisdeducationfoundation.org.