Mary Ellen Arnold Leftwich Endowed Scholarship

Mary Ellen was born November 10, 1916 at Laconia Circle, Arkansas to Mr. Lynn Evans Arnold and Nannie Jordan Arnold. When she was four, the family moved across the river to Gunnison where her father farmed. She graduated from Gunnison High School, then attended Delta State Teachers College and graduated with a degree in education in 1939. She did her practice teaching at the Hill Demonstration School on campus, then after graduation she taught in Houlka, Wade School outside Drew, Benoit, Gunnison and Rosedale before retiring in 1978.

Mrs. Leftwich loved her time at Delta State and the many friends she made because of the doors it opened for her. She and many of those friends were fixtures at Delta State events for many years until she was no longer able to attend. Since graduating in 1939, she only missed returning to campus for homecoming activities one time until just a few years ago. She was a charter member of Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, as well as the University Golden Circle. In 2008, she was honored with the Delta State University Legacy Award. She was also proud to have an endowed scholarship established in her name at Delta State for elementary education students.