Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: 2018 winners of the annual Mike Eaton scholarship announced

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

2018 winners of the annual Mike Eaton scholarship announced

The Historical Society of Carroll County announces the 2018 winners of the annual Mike Eaton scholarship.

June 4, 2018 by Caroline Babylon https://patch.com/maryland/westminster/2018-winners-annual-mike-eaton-scholarship-announced

Since 2011 The Historical Society of Carroll County has been awarding the Mike Eaton Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to honor the memory of William Granville “Mike” Eaton, an English teacher at Westminster High School from 1935 to 1971. He also directed plays and advised the Key Club. He inspired his students to challenge and improve themselves in many ways. He always believed in the great potential of his students to excel, and they have proven him correct.

Mr. Eaton brought panache to his classroom with his deck of index cards from which he pulled the targets of his well-placed questions. The cards brought their share of insecurity to the ill prepared, but Westminster High School seniors began to discover something, Shakespeare wasn't so bad after all. Mr. Eaton commanded the classroom. Heading the Drama Club at Westminster High School, he also commanded excellence in theatrical offerings.

Mr. Eaton was born in Centerville, Maryland and passed away from cancer in 1995. He graduated from Western Maryland College in 1930 and subsequently went on to earn his Master’s degree at Columbia University in New York.

For over three decades, Mike Eaton was Thelma Hoffman’s star boarder at Hoffman’s Inn, now owned by the Historical Society of Carroll County and known as Cockey’s Tavern, its name from when it was built in 1820.

The Mike Eaton Scholarship has been established through the Historical Society of Carroll County to recognize inspirational teachers, like Mr. Eaton, in the lives of the current graduating class of Westminster High School. The winning students wrote an essay about their most inspirational teacher.

Two Mike Eaton scholarships were awarded this spring to graduating seniors from Westminster High School. The teachers in the winning essays were also recognized at the Westminster High School awards ceremonies on June 4, 2018.

The two winning students were Margie Spann and Richard Folderauer. They each received a $500.00 scholarship and their most influential teacher received an engraved school bell.

Mr. Folderauer named Mrs. Melissa Purdy as his most influential teacher. Ms. Spann named Mrs. Kim Saltsburg as her most influential teacher.

Like Mr. Eaton, Mrs. Purdy is the Westminster High School drama teacher. According to Mr. Folderauer, every year Mrs. Purdy puts her heart, mind, and soul into three productions. She is a director, mentor, and friend to her students. She teaches kids from all walks of life the importance and the joy of performing. By doing that, she gives her students a love for performing and has inspired Richard Folderauer to inspire others with that love of performing.

Ms. Spann called Ms. Saltsburg an inspirational teacher whom she said was energetic, humorous, and beaming. She made interactive lessons that inspired Spann to anticipate going to class, look forward to studying for tests, and yearn to learn more. All of this happened in Mrs. Saltsburg’s Human Anatomy and Physiology class. While she introduced many to the pungent smell of formaldehyde; in the process she helped Margie Spann flourish in class and introduced her to the medical field, as she now plans to become a doctor.

Mr. Folderauer and Ms. Spann will both be attending the University of Maryland, College Park.

The Historical Society is pleased to be sponsoring this scholarship in memory of Mike Eaton who was an influential and memorable teacher at Westminster High School for over 35 years.

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Mike Eaton Remembered: https://www.facebook.com/groups/149464621731513/permalink/1970232649654692/

Historical Society of Carroll County

210 East Main Street, Westminster MD 21157

(410) 848-6494

For more information, contact Caroline Babylon or the Historical Society of Carroll County at 410-848-6494

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