JCPS Foundation gala features new scholarship announcements, tribute to retiring director

Christina Duren was honored with an Outstanding Volunteer Award on Tuesday during the gala. She was recognized for her efforts at Moreau Heights Elementary School where she serves as the school's parent-teacher organization president.
Christina Duren was honored with an Outstanding Volunteer Award on Tuesday during the gala. She was recognized for her efforts at Moreau Heights Elementary School where she serves as the school's parent-teacher organization president.

Two new scholarships were announced Tuesday night at the Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation's gala - one for a graduating high school senior, and the other for a teacher at the Southwest Early Childhood Center.

The JCPS Foundation works with local businesses and individuals to support the students and teachers of the Jefferson City School District.

One new scholarship announced at the Foundation's nautical-themed gala this year - "Embarking on a New Era!" - was the Teacher of the Year Educational Scholarship, an annual award for a graduating senior who wants to major in education.

The other new scholarship announced was created in Karen Enloe's name, for a teacher at SWECC.

Enloe is the first executive director for the JCPS Foundation, hired in 2007, and she is retiring at the end of the year.

She was congratulated at the gala via a pre-recorded video of clips from supporters and well-wishers. One of the people featured, JC Schools Board of Education President Lorelei Schwartz, said since Enloe's hire, the Foundation's assets have tripled, and the school district has received almost $1 million from the Foundation.

Enloe was not the only person recognized at the gala; five people and an organization were also inducted into the Foundation's Hall of Leaders:

Ashley Freeman, Chris Duren and the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, each as an Outstanding Volunteer;

David R. Goller, posthumously, as Legacy Donor;

Rebecca Welsh, as a Distinguished Alumni;

David Luther, as an Outstanding Retired Educator.

Duren was recognized for her many volunteer efforts in the community, including at Moreau Heights Elementary School, where she serves as the school's parent-teacher organization president.

Freeman is a graphic artist for Freeman Mortuary, the family business. She is a 2001 JCHS alumna who has volunteered with organizations including the United Way, HALO, the American Heart Association and First United Methodist Church Foundation.

With the JCPS Foundation, Freeman served six years on the Foundation's Board of Directors; was vice president of Community Relations; designed publications and was a leader in designing the Foundation's website; and continues to volunteer for the Foundation during Santa Day and the annual Princess & Papa dances.

Goller practiced law for nearly six decades, worked with clients to establish charitable trusts and his support for the community included the arts - being credited in assisting with the trust of Etta Miller to build JC Schools' Etta & Joseph Miller Performing Arts Center.

The Miller Performing Arts Center's auditorium is named the David R. Goller Auditorium because of an endowment gift to the JCPS Foundation in December 2018, to be used to pay for improvements to the auditorium's lighting, sound or other technical systems, or for improvements to beautify the interior of the Miller Center.

Luther served as JC Schools' director of school-community relations for 14 years, from 2000-14. He serves as the director of communications for the Missouri Association of School Administrators and the executive director of the Missouri School Public Relations Association, as well as owning Luther Communications, LLC.

The Missouri Society of Professional Engineers was recognized for its support of a math-tutoring program at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, started in 2015.

Welsh started HALO, a nonprofit that supports homeless and at-risk children around the world and in Jefferson City. She is a 1997 JCHS graduate.