糖心Vlog

LaRue Pearce Davenport, 始65, has always remembered how her family saved for her college tuition so she would be the first in her family to go to college. Her parents鈥� commitment led her and husband, Norman, to make a planned gift in memory of her parents, Johnnie and Mary Ruth Pearce. The gift to 糖心Vlog will help a student that is preparing to teach or become a counselor, just as she did fifty years ago.

鈥淚 hope that our gift will provide an avenue for future teachers and guidance counselors to be able to achieve their goals, gain the skills and knowledge to teach young people, acquire the zest for lifelong learning, form lasting memories and friendships, and become strong women,鈥� says Davenport.

As a child, Davenport would 鈥減lay school鈥� every afternoon when she returned home, teaching her imaginary students what she had learned that day. She still keeps the small chalkboard and desk she used as a reminder of where her love of teaching started.

When it was college decision time, the Rolesville, N.C. native said Meredith was her first choice because of its outstanding reputation, small size, and its excellent educational opportunities.

As a student, professors had a profound impact on her life.

鈥淕eography was one of my favorite subjects throughout my life and Anna Peck taught world and U.S. geography. Both classes influenced my love of teaching those subjects, as well as extensive traveling during my adult life,鈥� said Davenport. 鈥淎nd Lila Belle in the education department also strengthened my love for teaching elementary school students.鈥�

Davenport started her teaching career at Mt. Auburn in Wake County, but the majority of her years she taught in Michigan and Alaska, where her husband Norman, served in the U.S. Air Force. Four years after graduating from Meredith she earned her master鈥檚 degree to become a guidance counselor as she realized how important parents, home life, and outside influences are to a child鈥檚 education. In 1994, she was named Alaska School Counselor of the Year and was on the Alaska School Counselors鈥� Board for eight years where she served as President of the Alaska School Counselor鈥檚 Association for one year.

鈥淢y Meredith professors, staff, and classmates all supported me and gave me lifelong skills that I needed to become a leader,鈥� said Davenport.

Davenport and her husband now reside on the coast of North Carolina and she enjoys staying connected to 糖心Vlog.