Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, has awarded the first Patricia Lauderdale and Barbara Miller Endowed Scholarship. The endowed scholarship honors the first two African Americans who graduated from what was then Nazareth College in 1951. Lauderdale earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in library science. Miller went on to become the first Black faculty member at what is now Spalding University.
The scholarship honoring the two pioneering Black women is earmarked for African American women who are studying education, social work or communication. The first recipient of the scholarship is Tia Roberts, and education major. Roberts said that “I hope one day my story will inspire others to apply for the scholarship and for others to build this scholarship through their generosity.”
