The Ann Kathryn Kerwin Memorial Scholarship at Emmanuel College

Three years ago on a beautiful fall morning Ann Kathryn Kerwin, the six-year old granddaughter of Bob and Marianne (Maguire '56) Kerwin, was fatally struck by a car while walking to her first grade class with her mother and her sister, Erin.

To memorialize and celebrate Ann Kathyrn's life, so tragically cut short, her family found a variety of ways to capture her zest for life, which she expressed through her love for books, puzzles, art, friendships and the outdoors. "Best Friends", a beautiful bronze statue of children running and holding hands was commissioned from the sculptor Gary Lee Price. This has been installed at the entrance to Caruth Park in University Park, Texas in a garden with paving stones inscribed with A. A. Milne's poem "Now We Are Six" and dedicated to the memory of Ann Kathryn.

In addition, Marianne and Bob established and endowed the Ann Kathryn Kerwin Memorial Scholarship at Emmanuel College so that Emmanuel students for many generations will be able to carry on Ann Kathryn's love of learning. For Marianne this is a particularly meaningful closing of the circle. She was enabled to attend college when, fifty-four years ago, Emmanuel awarded her a full four-year scholarship. "Emmanuel gave me a great education and sent me off to M.I.T. for graduate school where I both received a Master of Science in Mathematics degree and met Bob. Through course work and example Emmanuel provided me with the resources to cement an adult faith in God. It was my place for four years."

Now, through Marianne and Bob's philanthropy, Emmanuel College has also become Ann Kathryn's place - a place to call home forever.