Donna Hayward, Class of 1977, remembers the financial challenges while pursuing her master’s degree in counseling at Adams State. She attended classes on campus during the summer months of 1975, 1976, and 1977, paying for student housing, tuition and fees, while maintaining her rent payments on her apartment in Pueblo.
Through estate planning, Donna recently set up The Donna J. (Disert) Hayward Endowed Scholarship in School Counseling (Master of Arts).
“I wanted to give back and help someone who may not have to struggle as much financially as I did while earning my master’s degree. I am excited that future students will receive the financial help I didn’t have.”
Donna appreciated the small school and class sizes at Adams State. “I had incredible instructors and learned valuable skills.”
After graduating Donna worked for school districts across Colorado, from smaller schools to larger metro areas. “School counselors are needed more than ever.” In her last position, 50 percent of the high school students were being raised by grandparents and the need for intervention crisis counseling was always high.
Donna retired and moved from Parker, Colo., to Calhan, Colo. to care for her mother. She and her husband continue to live there with their horses and dogs. “I continue to volunteer in my church as a counselor for young people as well as adults. It’s my service.”
