Opportunity met need when Bill and Carol Latimer became acquainted with Bailey Wagoner.
The result was a win-win for both parties.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said Wagoner has become the inaugural recipient of ‘The Latimer’, a $40,000 scholarship given to a Union City High School senior in four $10,000 increments by the Bill and Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation.
The humanitarian gesture is the latest philanthropic deed by the Latimer family, which has given considerable monies in the name of education to various individuals and institutions over many years.
“We’ve been blessed, and we wanted to provide financial help to a person of character and integrity, and one who had good grades and school spirit,” insisted Mr. Latimer, a proud 1956 graduate of Union City High School, who also provides four other scholarships to deserving students through his family foundation.
“Another – and likely the number-one requirement – was that they be a person of strong faith. Our foundation’s motto has always been to help spread the gospel with everything we say and do.”
Wagoner met all those criteria and more.
A member of the Top-10 in her class and the school’s prestigious 30+ ACT Club, she’s also participated in three sports as well as both the marching and concert band.
Bailey has been involved in various school clubs, her church’s youth group, and vacation bible school. She has also attended Girls State and SCOPE and has been a part of the Obion County Youth Leadership program.
She’s held a part-time job throughout high school and enjoys reading, photography, and arts and crafts during her rare free time.
Her future plans include attending the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she’ll major in mathematics with hopes of returning to the Union City School System to teach.
“I’m grateful to Mr. Latimer and the family foundation because this generous gift will take a lot of pressure off me financially,” Wagoner said. “I had already planned on working part-time while attending classes to make ends meet. With this scholarship, I hopefully won’t have a lot of educational debt when I complete college.”
Wagoner was selected for the honor by a committee of Union City High School personnel, with the formation of that group at the request of Mr. Latimer.
“I had no part in that, but I did want to meet her and talk to her afterward,” Latimer said. “She’s a wonderful young lady and just the type of young person we had in mind when we decided to give the scholarship.”
Guidance Counselor Susan Searcy sang the praises of Wagoner as a deserving recipient of the Latimer Foundation’s kindness.
“Bailey has challenged herself with Honors and AP courses, a variety of community service and volunteer hours, athletics, and band,” Searcy said. “We’re very proud of her and so thankful to the Latimer Family for assisting someone who will use that help as it was intended.”
Mr. Latimer, who has a long history of supporting Union City Schools and at one time served as a school board member, spoke glowingly of the current state of the system.
“I believe Union City has one of the best education systems in West Tennessee, and that includes the private schools,” he said. “Education is the best way to get people out of poverty, and I’m convinced that people must get the best education they can in whatever field they choose to be the best version of themselves.
“That doesn’t mean that college is for everyone. There are many wonderful opportunities with trade schools and other vocational facilities. I believe it is the duty of every person to do their best, and I believe some form of education is critical to that process.”
(Photo: Bill and Carol Latimer with Bailey Wagoner)
