Scholarship Fund Started In Honor Of Shirley Allen

Houston-Trinity County Shared Services is pleased to announce the creation of a scholarship fund in honor of Shirley Patrick Allen, who recently retired after 24 years of service as director of the special education cooperative.

Houston-Trinity County Shared Services is a special education shared services or cooperative agreement between seven Houston County and Trinity County public school districts that provides specialized education services for Grapeland, Latexo, Lovelady, Kennard, Groveton, Apple Springs, and Centerville (Trinity) school districts.

“The creation of a scholarship in my name is simply the greatest honor I could ever have,” Allen said. “The scholarship enables me to continue giving to one of the most important endeavors of my life: educational achievement.”

Allen devoted 49 years of her life to the education field. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Women’s University in 1961 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in counseling with certifications in supervision and as an educational diagnostician. During her long career, Allen taught first through fifth grades in Duncanville, elementary Special Education in Ennis, secondary English in Conroe, and was a high school counselor in the Woodlands before returning home to Porter Springs in1983.

Vicki Dial, current special education director of Houston-Trinity County Shared Services, said the scholarship was set up to honor Allen for the many years she dedicated to educating our country’s youth.

“Shirley has always given her time and shared her knowledge to help better the lives of our communities’ young people,” Dial said. “She was a great boss and a wonderful friend to all who worked with her.”

The Shirley Allen Scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating senior who is a descendent of Shirley Allen or any employee of the Houston-Trinity County Shared Services. The scholarship will be for the fall and spring semesters, following the senior’s graduation year.

To apply for the scholarship, the senior must be attending a junior college, 4-year university, trade, or technical school. The funds will be given directly to the senior upon proof of registration.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund in honor of Allen may make checks payable to “Shirley Allen Scholarship Fund,” in care of Citizen National Bank; P.O. Box 1420, Crockett, Texas 75835-7420. For inquires, please contact the Houston Trinity County Shared Services at (936) 544-9562.