Alumna Estate Gift Triples Support for Future Teachers
Neva Smith and her husband Ralph established The Neva and Ralph Smith Educational Scholarship Fund in 1999 to recognize outstanding students in Liberal Studies, the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential or Urban Dual Credential Program (UDCP) and reflects Mrs. Neva Smith’s belief that education is critical to making the world a better place.
Neva passed away in 2019 at the age of 102; in 2021 her estate generously gave an additional six-figure gift to the scholarship fund. The previous endowment principle disbursed three annual scholarships averaging $2,400 and with the new bequest, the College of Education can now offer almost three times that amount annually, in perpetuity.
Neva Smith was born on October 29, 1917 in Los Angeles, California. She received her BA from the University of La Verne in 1943 and her MA in Education from CSULB in 1955. Neva taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District, primarily at Osate Elementary School teaching first and second grades. She taught for 28 years before she retired in 1983. Ralph and Neva enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to visit many countries. They were also avid readers. Neva created this scholarship because she was interested in educating young people and believed that teaching is the most important job that anyone can do, “...we need good teachers to ensure the success of all children, and that Long Beach has the best education department to prepare the best future teachers.”
If you are interested in learning more about planned giving, please contact Hayley Miller at Hayley.miller@csulb.edu or call (562) 985-2069. For additional information regarding the College of Education’s development efforts, please visit the Development website.
