The Dees Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of John and Katie Dees who were both special education teachers in the Francis Howell School District. They perished in a house fire along with their daughter in 1987.
Junius Pinkney III pictured with his mother Rose
Each year, one special education student is selected to receive a $500 scholarship to further their education and help them continue in their quest in becoming an integral, productive member of society. The Dees Scholarship is awarded through F.A.C.T. in conjunction with the Francis Howell Dees Scholarship Committee. Loraine Dees, mother of John Dees, is an active and supportive part of the success of this program.
The 2011 Dees Scholarship winner is Junius Pinkney III. Junius is 17 and a recent graduate of Francis Howell North High School. Junius is a self-motivated young adult that has visions of being a HVAC technician. He discovered that the Dees Scholarship was available and made the decision to apply for the scholarship on his own and then took the necessary steps in the application process. In order to be awarded the Dees Scholarship an eligible candidate must have letters of recommendation from two different teachers. One of his teachers, Jani Wilkens, said that Junius’ “ability to think outside of the box and persevere when the road ahead doesn’t seem all that well-paved, makes him a fine candidate.” F.A.C.T. is excited to honor such a commendable young man. Congratulations Junius! Good Luck at Lewis and Clark Technical Center this fall
