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MARSHALL -- The public awareness of the Pride in the Tiger (PIT) Foundation's mission has grown since its beginning back in 1999.
The Foundation awards scholarships to graduating Marshall High School seniors, and also supports worthwhile programs and initiatives in Marshall's public and private schools. These are called Teacher Impact Grants, and help cover costs that often aren't part of the district's budget.
And while many students and programs have benefited from the financial support of the PIT, sometimes it's best to let the numbers tell the story.
• Since 2017, the PIT Foundation has awarded $1.63 million in scholarships to graduating seniors. That includes $173,210 to this year's graduating class, and $194,010 last year. These scholarships are comprised of annual and endowed funds made possible through donations to the PIT.
• Since the 2016-17 academic year, a total of $480,858.66 has been awarded in Teacher Impact Grants. That includes $76,330.54 during the 2022-23 academic year. Money for these grants is garnered primarily through the Daktronics advertising initiative in the high school gym, and the annual PIT Golf Tournament. The grants are awarded twice a year through a competitive grant process, said Pride in the Tiger Executive Director Krista Bjella.
Teacher Impact Grants are awarded by a PIT committee, said Bjella. The annual scholarships are not, however.
"Scholarship applications are reviewed by a cross section of (MHS) teachers, administrators and counselors, representing all different departments and specialties within the school. It's a diverse group." She said.
Bjella and the board are not a part of the selection process.
"I am a facilitator," she said.
The 12-15 member PIT board's job is to "follow the financial donors' wishes. Each scholarship is unique, and may have stipulations attached to it," she said. That may include involvement in a particular activity, or a student's desire to pursue a certain academic program.
"It's a lengthy process," said Bjella about how scholarship recipients are selected.
The annual Pride in the Tiger Scholarship Awards Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the high school gym. At that time, a total of 177 separate awards will be presented to seniors.
Students began to electronically apply for scholarships at the beginning of March. A recent addition to the process has been a section asking for students' work and volunteer involvement, said Bjella.
"It asks a narrative about their best characteristics, how they view themselves as leaders, as agents for change," she said.
"That's a new addition (to the application) process," adde Bjella. "It's similar to the admissions process for colleges and reinforces the things the students will encounter as they move on to the next phase."
The Foundation was started in 1999 following the tragic death of student Matthew Wiener. His mother, Karen, came to then-Superintendent Tom Tapper looking for ideas on how to donate the many cash memorials that she had received. Their conversation was what started the Pride in the Tiger Foundation.
It's a story Bjella enjoys telling, and she's happy to see that students who have benefited from scholarships are now financially supporting the Foundation.
"It's such a great story, it makes people want to support us," she said. Last year, MHS alumnus Trey Lance established an endowed scholarship after being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.
Several large donations really helped establish the Foundation financially, and today its endowment stands at roughly $2.8 million. That endowment is naturally affected by the stock market.
Bjella became the executive director in September 2020. She is also a part-time MHS counselor. What's she learned since becoming part of the PIT?
"The impact the Foundation has on student success," she said. "Also the importance of the grants; people are always so appreciative, and the grants do make a big difference in all Marshall schools."
She is quick to give credit to the PIT board.
"They really have a passion for education and our schools, and we wouldn't be where we are without them," she said.