Annual scholarship program honors Founder C. Jackson Grayson’s commitment to education
A pioneer in business productivity since 1977, Houston-based APQC has announced the launch of the C. Jackson Grayson Scholarship Program in honor of the company’s late founder. Each year, the program will award scholarships to Houston-area high school seniors. Each recipient will receive $25,000 per year for tuition, books, and fees, totaling $100,000 per student over the course of a four-year college education.
The scholarship application website goes live today: October 8, Grayson’s birthday. The deadline to apply is November 30. Inaugural recipients will be announced in March 2022 for Fall 2022 enrollment at a public or private institution.
“Jack, our beloved founder, believed that education was the foundation of freedom, productivity, community, and improving the quality of life for all people,” says Lisa Higgins, CEO of APQC. “We are thrilled to honor his legacy with these extraordinary scholarships that will change the lives of these young individuals and their families for years to come.”
Scholarships Target 5 Counties in Houston Area
Students from across five counties – Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, and Waller Counties – are eligible for the scholarships. Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need, have at least a 2.5 GPA, and be perceived as a leader in the community.
“We’re looking to award these life-changing scholarships to those with a drive to succeed but who do not have a financial path forward to make that a reality,” notes Ashley White, Executive Director of HR at APQC and head of the scholarship initiative.
The scholarships will be administered through Scholarship America (SAI), who will select top finalists for APQC’s scholarship committee to evaluate and make final selections.
“The work at APQC has been essential in shaping and propelling organizations forward to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves. Now, they are doing the same for students,” notes Adeeb Barqawi, CEO of ProUnitas. “These incredible scholarships, worth $100,000 per student over four years, compare to that of the Gates Foundation in size and scale, and they show what a committed, driven, and community-minded organization like APQC can do to make a lasting impact on communities and the world.”
Additionally, scholarship recipients will get the chance to intern at APQC or one of its relevant member organizations, giving them on-the-job training to prepare for the workplace.
Award Honors Jack Grayson’s Lifetime Commitment to Education
Higgins adds, “Jack always believed in the critical role that education plays in lifting individuals and societies out of poverty. He would have turned 98 this year, and I think he would be very proud to know that his legacy is being used to transform lives through education.”
Grayson retired in 2015 at age 91 and passed away in 2017 at the age of 93. He is remembered as a fierce and highly respected advocate for productivity, quality, and competitiveness in the American economy. His memoriam bio is located here.
As founder and CEO of APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center), Grayson spent his professional career mentoring organizations and individuals to be better and do better. His commitment to education was his life’s mission. Believing that education was the key to the productivity and long-term success of companies and communities, Grayson personally invested millions of dollars into improving the education system in the U.S. – investments that are paying dividends for individuals, families, companies, and the economy to this day.
He served as Chairman of the U.S. Price Commission under President Nixon in 1971 and helped rollback unpopular price controls. He was the creator of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award; co-founder of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa; dean for business schools at both Tulane and Southern Methodist University; and a World War II Veteran.
Interested applicants are encouraged to view the scholarship website for information.