Jack Staggs Establishes
Dissertation Award Endowment

The fund was created to provide dissertation awards to students completing a doctoral degree in a program within the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, which was Staggs' area of work before his retirement in 1986. He continued to teach part time at Sam Houston State until 1993.

Staggs came to Sam Houston State in 1960, and has more than 50 years' service in public school, community college and university teaching. He was in charge of the Sam Houston State teacher education program for 15 years, and wrote the first proposal for a doctorate in educational administration.

"I am still very much interested in Sam Houston State University, the College of Education and Applied Science, and the new doctorate," he said. "I believe in improving education in public schools, and felt it would be worthwhile to reward and encourage practical research that would help accomplish that purpose."

The award will be given to the student completing the best dissertation during each academic year, in the judgment of a five-member selection committee.

Recipients of the awards will also receive a plaque commemorating the award, and their names will be engraved on a permanent plaque located in the Center for Research and Doctoral Studies in the College of Education and Applied Science.

It is expected that the endowment will provide an annual $1,000 dissertation award, with the first award being available for the 1998-'99 academic year. Others who would like to contribute to the endowment may do so by contacting the SHSU Advancement Office.

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Dec. 12, 1997

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