Endowment
"May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."
General
All gifts designated to any endowment maintained by the school shall be considered restricted gifts and will be recorded and held as such, with only the income used in accordance with the School's investment policy. The school encourages unrestricted gifts to the general endowment fund; however, gifts to any of the school's named endowment funds are welcome.
The Norma and Alan Hill Memorial Fund
Alan Hill served on the Shawnee Country Day/Topeka Collegiate School Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1987. He believed in the mission of the newly established school and worked diligently to help make it successful. He supported the school generously with both his time and his financial contributions.
Alan Hill was killed in a car accident on October 30, 2004. Those who attended his funeral heard Alan Hill described as an "uncommon common man." Despite his learning differences, he was committed to education excellence. He understood the importance of quality education.
After visiting with Alan's widow Norma and his daughters Kathleen and Alison, Topeka Collegiate School founders Susan and Kent Garlinghouse realized that an idea had emerged for a memorial fund to help deserving students attend Topeka Collegiate School. "To recognize Alan's role in the early development of the school," said the Garlinghouses, "we think it would be appropriate to establish this memorial in his name."
The memorial fund was established. Less than a year later came the sad news that Norma Hill, Alan's widow, was terminally ill. Before she died she performed an act of great generosity for young people she didn't know and would never meet. Daughter Alison Hill Langham '86 explains: "One of the last acts of charitable giving my mom did before she died was to donate enough money to what's now called the Norma and Alan Hill Memorial Fund to help support a student each year at Topeka Collegiate."
The first award from the Normal and Alan Hill Memorial Fund was made in the 2006-2007 school year. Alison helped craft the guidelines for awarding the funds, keeping in mind her mother's words that she wanted the awards to make "a significant difference" in the life of a child.
Phyllis Hoyt (left) in 1983,
her first year at TCS
Phyllis Hoyt Endowed Mathematics Chair
Throughout its 25-year history, Topeka Collegiate School has established a proud record of success in mathematics. A strong mathematics curriculum continues to be central to the TCS mission of preparing young people to succeed in advanced education and successful careers.
For all but one of Topeka Collegiate's 25 years, the math program has been virtually embodied by one person: Phyllis Hoyt. It's hard to even imagine middle school math without Phyllis. She has guided a generation of students through pre-algebra, algebra and geometry; disciplines that form the basis of math study at the secondary level and beyond. Mrs. Hoyt's students are consistently the top mathematics students in high school and they credit Phyllis Hoyt.
"Phyllis Hoyt is the best teacher I have ever had."
MIT Class of '06
Students appreciate Mrs. Hoyt's teaching skills, which are considerable, but also her warmth and enthusiasm.
"I still remember the sparkle in Mrs. Hoyt's eyes when she was explaining some mathematical concept. We would be learning about the volume of a cone, for example, and she would ask with an eager grin, ‘Do you want to see why?’"
Stanford Class of '03
Mrs. Hoyt's commitment to her students extends beyond the classroom. For 25 years, she has coached her "mathletes" in a variety of math competitions. She has coached the Kansas team at the National Mathcounts contest twice. She has sent three students to national competition; one of them twice. Ten of her students have placed in the top ten in the state in Mathcounts. Under Phyllis's coaching, TCS students have advanced either as individuals, as a team, or both, 19 of the 23 years TCS has competed in Mathcounts. Despite the stresses of competition, Phyllis remains supportive and unflappable.
Mrs. Hoyt presents the math department
award to David Wang '07
Under Phyllis Hoyt's direction, Topeka Collegiate has established a regional and national reputation for excellence in mathematics. She is a master teacher, one who relates to gifted students but also to those who struggle with math.
Much as we hate to think about it, Phyllis Hoyt will retire one day. Not soon, we hope. But when she does, we must be prepared to insure that our exemplary mathematics program does not suffer.In order to make sure our future students' achievement is not compromised, and to provide for a continuity of excellence, we propose endowing the Phyllis Hoyt Mathematics Chair. The goal is to provide continuing funds to finance what we're calling "the margin of excellence," that is, the difference between an average teacher's salary and the salary for a teacher of Phyllis's caliber.