A Legacy of Grit: The Story Behind the Howell Family Scholarship to Aim High
April 24, 2025
When Dr. Gary and Helen Howell established the Howell Family Scholarship, they wanted to give more than financial support. They wanted to give students a powerful message of hope and resilience based on their journey.
Each scholarship recipient receives a personal letter from the couple, one that begins with warm congratulations, but quickly moves into something deeper: an honest and heartfelt reflection on what it means to work hard and never give up.
“We were young once,” they write, “and facing the future with no degree and less than $300 between us.”
Their inspirational words speak the hard truth. The Howells struggled for their education. Gary took summer jobs in steel mills and cleaned warehouses. Helen worked as a waitress, in a bow factory, and eventually as a credit phone approval agent. They stretched every dollar, qualified for food stamps, and lived below the poverty line for years.
But they didn’t give up. Eventually Gary earned a dental degree, and Helen became an elementary school teacher. They settled in Erie, started their careers and raised their family. “Erie was kind to us, and we wanted to return some of our good fortune,” the letter explains. “We tell you this not to brag, but to remind you that if we could do it, so can you!”
Their desire to help young people led to the Howell Family Scholarship through The Erie Community Foundation. Last year, three students from Cathedral Prep, McDowell High School, and Collegiate Academy, each received $8,000 toward their education.
“Perhaps someday you will be able to help someone else,” their letter concludes. “We wish you God’s blessings and the will to persevere no matter how hard it seems at the time. Never give up and you will succeed eventually. AIM HIGH.”
The Howell Family Scholarship stands as a powerful reminder that humble beginnings do not define the story, but kindness and determination can change lives. Dr. Gary and Helen Howell worked with the Foundation to make their dream come true, which is to help the next generation achieve their dreams by aiming high.
Photo featuring Gary and Helen, courtesy of Gary.