Estelle Beaumont Ellison

The spirit of generosity and concern for others which is evident in her endowment of this Scholarship Fund reflects only a part of the person who was Estelle Ellison.

Born Edna Estelle Beaumont on January 31, 1894, she lived all of her life in San Antonio, as had her father. In the early 1800’s, long before Texas completed its transition from Spanish Territory to Statehood, her grandfather, Dr. E.L. Beaumont, practiced medicine in San Antonio. Her father, Edmund F. Beaumont, was an engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad at the time when railroads had just completed the network which linked the East and West Coasts of the United States. Maude Coates Beaumont, Estelle’s mother, was the daughter of a Quaker family from Massachusetts.

Estelle was blessed with parents who were eager and interested participants in the world around them, and this blessing helped shape Estelle’s own attitudes toward life. She was a gifted student, graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 1911 from old Main Avenue High School. Rather than use one of the scholarships she won to attend either the University of Texas or Southwestern University in Georgetown, Estelle married Walter W. Ellison, a young man with good humor and outgoing ways. Throughout their married life, the Ellisons actively contributed to their community, showing great concern for young people and giving generously to numerous charities that benefited children. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Ellison continued in those endeavors until her own death on October 23, 1979.

Estelle Ellison is remembered by her friends as a devoted Christian who faithfully attended Christ Episcopal Church, of which she was a member. She had a quiet and dignified manner, and she remained interested in her community until the end of her life. Her stewardship of God’s gifts stands as an example to all who would bring the light of Christianity and the focus of intellectual achievement to mankind.

The Scholarship Fund

The perpetual scholarship fund endowed by Estelle Beaumont Ellison is an expression of her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord, in Christ Episcopal Church in its mission as God’s Church in this world, and in the potential of young Christian men and women. The income from this fund is to be used for a variety of scholarships and grants; the scholarships will be awarded in two categories, those of Individual Seminary Scholarships and Individual Educational Scholarships.

Mrs. Ellison’s intention was that awards be made to individuals who show evidence of the following (listed in order of importance):

1. Moral Character
2. Academic excellence, diligence, achievement or ability
3. Financial need
4. Regular participation in a Christian Church

Individual Seminary Scholarships

For persons canonically resident in the Diocese of West Texas who enroll in one of the accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church located in the United States.

1. Scholarships will be awarded for a single year; applications may be renewed for succeeding years.
2. Applications for individual Seminary Scholarships will receive priority over individual Educational Scholarships.
3. Age limits do not apply on Seminary applicants.
4. Amount of Seminary scholarships will be individually decided.

Individual Educational Scholarships

For persons who are members of Christ Episcopal Church or who are residing in Bexar County and enroll in accredited educational institutions at secondary, undergraduate or graduate levels:

1. Scholarships will be awarded for a single year; applications may be renewed for succeeding years. Preference will generally be given to renewal applicants who are satisfactorily continuing the pursuit of a degree program.
2. Individual Educational Scholarships are limited to students between the ages of 14 and 30 years.
3. Individual Educational Scholarships will be awarded in amounts from $500 to $3,000 per year.

Completed application forms, with required letters of recommendation, etc., should be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for evaluation no later than March 1 of the year for which the scholarships are sought. Late applications will receive consideration to the extent that time and availability of funds permit.

THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
The Estelle Beaumont Ellison
Scholarship Fund
Christ Episcopal Church
510 Belknap
San Antonio, Texas 78212
210/736-3132

For more information, contact

Persons desiring to contribute to the Fund may mail their donations to:

The Estelle Beaumont Ellison Scholarship Fund
510 Belknap
San Antonio, Texas 78212

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who has committed to your holy Church the care and nurture of your children; enlighten with your wisdom those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."