Blackburn Institute

The Blackburn Institute announces the Don and Barbara “Bobbie” Siegal Endowed Scholarship

August 12, 2009

The Don and Barbara “Bobbie” Siegal Endowed Scholarship was established by advisory board members Don and Bobbie Siegal in honor Dr. John L. Blackburn and Dr. Robert E. Witt.  The scholarship is designed to recognize Blackburn Institute students and fellows with a demonstrated interest in and a concern for the promotion of cultural understanding.

The Siegals said the idea for the scholarship came from the inspiration Dr. John L. Blackburn provided during the peaceful integration of the University in 1963.  “We hope John L. Blackburn’s vision of a campus of caring individuals will last into perpetuity,” the Siegals said about the legacy they would like the scholarship to leave.  They said the scholarship exists to honor the legacy of Dr. John L. Blackburn and celebrate the efforts of Dr. Robert Witt in promoting values of diversity and inclusion on the Alabama campus.  They hope this scholarship will encourage Blackburn students to continue in helping make the campus a place where all students feel welcomed so they can pursue their education in an atmosphere of equality that is the ideal upon which our nation was founded.

Applicants can be undergraduate or graduate students and are asked to write an essay demonstrating their actions in the promotion of cultural understanding.

Applications are available in the Blackburn Institute office and on their Web site and must be completed and submitted to Candace Peters by 5:00 pm on August 31, 2009 in Temple Tutwiler Hall room 204.  The recipient of the first annual scholarship will be announced at the D. Ray Pate Dinner on Monday, September 21, 2009.

Download the application (PDF)