The Ernest Dawson Memorial Fund

The Ernest Dawson Memorial Fund

Ernest Lenar Dawson was born on November 22, 1922, only child of Zack and
Pearlie Mae, share- croppers on the outskirts of Selma, Alabama. His education began
in a one- room school- house where forty children, in grades one through six, were
taught by one teacher. With the encouragement of his parents, Ernest moved to the nearby
city of Selma and lived with relatives while pursuing his studies at the segregated Knox
Academy High School, graduating as president of his class in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy
from 1943-46 and then went to Chicago to find employment. After a day’s work, he attended
classes at a television technicians school and was certified in 1949.

With this new skill, Ernest came to New York City and found a position in an electronics firm. In
1951, he persuaded his parents to join him so he could better share in the care of an
ailing mother. He joined the Isabella Baptist Church, founded by his uncle, Rev. Jeremiah Dawson,
and was ordained Deacon with the duties of organizing the Sunday School. After one term at New York
University in the Fall of 1957, Ernest transferred to City College and began his studies towards a B.S. in
mathematics and secondary education, which he received in 1968. He chose to continue for an M.S. in
Early Childhood Education and graduated in 1971.

He had been teaching part-time in the New York Day Care program from 1966 as assistant, then as group
teacher in various centers in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. Upon certification, he became director of a
center in the Bronx, then assistant director in the Manhattanville Center until his retirement in 1987. Ernest’s
talent for communicating with children inspired the trust and comradeship of both his colleagues and his pupils.
Upon leaving us on August 11, 1994, Ernest bequeathed a legacy of pride and love to all those future generations
in whose hearts he will remain forever.

Among his other bequests, to the -United Negro College Fund and to the now desegregated Selma Public Library, we
are privileged to announce the establishment of the Ernest Lenar Dawson Fund to sustain the City College School of
Education program in Early Childhood Education.

This scholarship awards $1000 to Early Childhood Education Students.

Criteria:

• Be in financial need
• Be in good academic standing
• Submit a personal statement (up to 500 words) about the importance of early childhood education and their goals as
  an early childhood teacher.