September 22, 2021
Tallahassee Community College recognized donors for three new student scholarships at the College’s September District Board of Trustees meeting held at the main campus. Among those recognized were Shirl Hendley, Lamont, and Johnnie Cook, and the family of Dr. Bart Carey.
The Johnson Browning Hendley Graham Endowed Scholarship was created with a $10,000 gift from Shirl Hendley. The scholarship is for minority students from Leon or Gadsden Counties exhibiting financial need to attend TCC.
“My parents always taught me to share my blessings,” said Shirl Hendley, Donor of the Johnson Browning Hendley Graham Endowed Scholarship, a native of Gadsden County who now lives in Maryland. “With this scholarship, I want to help others further their education beyond high school. I received scholarships and grants to pursue my education. I have watched TCC grow and expand and gain national prominence during my yearly visits to Florida. I am impressed with the depth and breadth of TCC’s courses, certificates, and degrees. I want to help those BIPOC in need from Leon and Gadsden Counties realize their dreams. My late brother, Wayne J. Hendley, attended TCC, which allowed him to kick start his career in law enforcement.”
Lamont and Johnnie Cook contributed $25,000 to create the Lamont and Johnnie Cook scholarship which provides financial assistance to students pursuing an associate degree in building and construction management at TCC.
“I attended classes at TCC and am proud to count myself among its distinguished alumni,” said Lamont Cook. “My company, Cook Brothers, Inc., has done a tremendous amount of work on the TCC main campus and the Florida Public Safety Institute. To be able to establish a scholarship that combines my love of this institution and my profession was something special for me and my wife Johnnie.”
The Dr. Bart Carey Scholarship was created by the Friends of Dr. Bart Carey. Led by his long-time friend, Chuck Urban, this group put together a poker tournament to raise funds. They partnered with the TCC Foundation to launch this event, and 100 individuals participated, raising $30,000 to create this scholarship honoring Dr. Bart Carey, a local dentist who passed away last year. Dr. Carey’s father, Dr. Jim Carey provided an additional $10,000, bringing this fund to $40,000.
Dr. Bart Carey graduated from Leon High School in Tallahassee and earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Florida State University. He was accepted into the charter class at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine in Fort Lauderdale. Upon graduation, he began his post-graduate education in pediatric dentistry at Nova Southeastern University and the prestigious Miami Children’s Hospital. As a dentist and partner at Dr. Carey & Jones Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Bart was a trusted colleague and mentor to those within the business and across the industry. Locally, Bart lectured regularly to dental hygiene students at TCC. The funds will be used to support students entering TCC’s dental programs.