First Recipient of the Pershing E. Sims Scholarship Focuses on Poverty Prevention

Kayla Crowder, a senior social work major, is the first recipient of the Pershing E. Sims Scholarship for Poverty Prevention, a new scholarship in the School of Social Work.

Pershing Sims was the eldest son of 12 children growing up during the Depression in southern Minnesota. During his childhood, the Sims family moved from town to town trying to make a living from farming but ultimately fell into poverty due to limited job opportunities. For most of his childhood, Sims and his family lived day-to-day trying to find work, food, and suitable housing.

After his discharge from the military, Sims married his bride, Bernice, and they had nine children, one of whom is Lori Sims, director of development for the College of Applied Human Sciences. “While growing up, we qualified for some social services, including dental care, hot lunch, and work study, among other things. My parents were able to move one step up from Depression era poverty, but with blue-collar jobs and a big family to support, they continued to struggle,” said Lori Sims, who with her husband, Vern Dosmann, established the new scholarship.

A vivid memory that she has is watching her mother pay the bills each month, with little stacks of dollars and quarters, and remembering the expression on her mother’s face of not knowing how it would stretch. “Even though my parents were not able to give a lot of money to charity, they volunteered their time at several places and did hundreds of good deeds for others. We grew up with that example,” said Sims. “Dad used to say, ‘I’m a rich man, I just don’t have much money,’ referring to the richness he felt in other ways – family, health, and simple pleasures.”

Kayla Crowder, the Sims recipient, wants to work with underprivileged populations when she graduates, especially families in poverty. Kayla comes from a family with a single mother who worked multiple jobs to support five daughters. Kayla is employed while in school, working with children at the Before and After School Enrichment program (BASE Camp) at Beattie Elementary, and has earned grants and scholarships in order to put herself through College. “My long term career goals involve working in a school setting to help children who come from complex and diverse environments and backgrounds. I am very anxious to finish my schooling and start working in place where I know I can make a difference,” said Crowder.

Through personal struggles, the Sims family knows firsthand that the only way out of poverty is through educational opportunities combined with personal drive and ambition. All nine Sims children went to college and broke the cycle of poverty in their family. Pershing Sims died of Alzheimer’s disease in 1999, and Bernice lives in Fargo, N.D. In honor of Pershing’s life and philosophy, the Sims scholarship offers assistance to Social Work students, such as Kayla Crowder, whose primary academic focus is preventing and reducing poverty.

“For my entire college career, I have been very fortunate to have had many opportunities for scholarships and grants. Without this much-needed help, I probably would not have been here at Colorado State University. It has been a very challenging journey, and words cannot express how thankful I am for the support. It is people like Lori Sims who make dreams come true,” said Crowder.

Since starting the scholarship, Sims wrote a children’s book entitled, “Starvin’ Marvin and Skinny Minnie Shake Up San Francisco.” Proceeds from the book sales are helping to support the scholarship fund. It is available on Amazon.com.

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Contact:  Gretchen Gerding
Telephone:  970.491.5182
Email:  Gretchen.Gerding@colostate.edu