CJCAT, AIG VALIC Award Past President

Borden County Judge Van York, immediate past president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT), awarded the 2006 CJCAT Past President’s Scholarship of $5,000 to Jodye Rutherford of Borden County High School in Gail.
York, along with Bob Wendel, managing director of AIG Variable Annuity Life Insurance (VALIC) which funds the award, presented a Scholarship Guarantee Certificate to Rutherford at the Borden County Commissioners Court meeting June 12.
This is the seventh scholarship funded by AIG VALIC, of Houston.
“We established the scholarship as a meaningful way to enhance our relationship with the county judges and commissioners,” Wendel said. The program is designed to award $5,000 to a graduating senior from a high school located in the county of the immediate past president.
“AIG VALIC must be commended for donating the funds for the Past President’s Scholarship,” York said. “This scholarship enables young people to fulfill their dream of completing college and thereby helping them become worthwhile individuals for their communities, families and themselves. This scholarship is a fine example of the support AIG VALIC has given the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas.”
Criteria for the scholarship selection included class ranking, activities and personal attributes, letters of recommendation, and a written essay. A committee of representatives from the Region IV Education Service Center of Houston reviewed scholarship applications.
This year’s recipient received several glowing recommendations including the following from a former employer:
Ms. Rutherford proved herself to be honest and trustworthy. Her personality was always upbeat, and she displayed excellent people skills. Jodye showed such initiative that I allowed her to run my office in my absence, something I had never allowed anyone to do before.
She was among the top five of her graduating class and plans to attend South Plains College in the fall where she will pursue a degree in business accounting. While in high school, Rutherford was a member of the UIL accounting team and the UIL calculator applications team. She also played softball and was head cheerleader and basketball manager.
“I think that I am a good candidate for this scholarship because I can put the money to good use by earning a degree and carrying out my lifelong dream,” Rutherford wrote in her essay. “I am very appreciative of the help that I do get from other people, and in return I (will) help some people with things that they will be needing help with.”
Rutherford will receive the first $2,500 scholarship installment after presenting evidence of full-time college enrollment for the first semester, and the remainder after presenting evidence of full-time status for the second semester.
“The presentation of the Past President’s Scholarship Award to a Borden County student was the most rewarding presentation I have made in my 24 years in office,” York said. “To see Rutherford’s eyes light up when she viewed the award was the highlight of my year.”
Julie Anderson, Editor