Clouse helps tend growing Mull scholarship program

Joan Clouse, guidance and career services counselor at Saline County Career Center, helps to facilitate the Houston E. Mull Memorial FFA scholarship each year. Since 2005, 53 scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 have been awarded to FFA members from area schools. The fifth annual Houston E. Mull Memorial FFA Scholarship Cattle Drive begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Mull farm north of Marshall. (Marcia Gorrell/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Joan Clouse is one the many people who work behind the scenes with the Houston E. Mull FFA Memorial Scholarship and its main fundraiser, the cattle drive.

"A lot us call ourselves the 'wannabe cowgirls,'" said Clouse. "We don't ride the horses, but we donate the cookies."

However, as the guidance and career services counselor at Saline County Career Center in Marshall, Clouse does more than bake cookies.

She also helps facilitate the scholarship, which since 2005, when just one was awarded, has now been given to 53 graduating FFA students from Marshall, Santa Fe, Slater, Sweet Springs and Malta Bend high schools.

Scholarships are also given to students already in college.

In all, a total of $32,250 in scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 have been given out.

The scholarships are in honor of Mull, who died from injuries sustained in a car accident in July 2004. He had just finished his freshman year at MHS, where he was one of the students under Clouse's guidance.

The money comes from the Houston E. Mull FFA Memorial Cattle Drive, which this year begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the farm of Brenda, Robin and Bradley Mull, north of Marshall.

When deciding to develop the scholarship, Clouse, who is Brenda's cousin, said they wanted it to "reflect Houston" as much as possible. With that in mind, the mission statement of the scholarship is to "recognize students in a FFA program in Marshall and the surrounding area schools."

The money can be used to attend a two- or four-year college, university, technical or specialty school.

She said the selection committee, which does not include the Mulls, chooses based on need, involvement in FFA and personality.

"We are looking for students more like Houston," she said. "We judge more on one's character and those willing to go the extra mile for others."

One of the questions on the scholarship form asks the applicant to state why they would like to receive the scholarship.

Many have talked about their relationship with Houston, who would have graduated with the MHS class of 2007.

"Filling this scholarship out has been a mix of emotions: I am smiling through stinging eyes. Houston was having a good time when it was allowed, but serious when the need be," wrote one applicant.

Another wrote, "I always thought that Houston was the nicest person I knew and I would be very honored if I could receive a scholarship that was in his memory."

Clouse said that the success of the cattle drive is the reason they have been able to present so many scholarships. Last year more than 300 riders participated in the drive and 700 people attended the steak dinner and auction following the drive.

"I never dreamed it would be this much," said Clouse, about the numbers of scholarships they have been able to present.

However she said she "loves every minute" of the work it takes.

"Getting the students ready for college and helping their parents pay for it. It's one of the favorite parts of my work," she said. "That's what I'm here for, the kids."

She also is quick to point out that many people help out with the scholarship and the cattle drive.

"I don't feel like I do that much," she said. "There are so many people that do so much behind the scenes."

Although she won't be riding in the cattle drive, Clouse goes each year to the Saturday night steak dinner.

"I go and see all the wonderful people there," she said. "I've met some great people from around the country."

Clouse has worked 23 years in education, with the last 19 at the Saline County Career Center.

She and her husband of 45 years, Wayne, have three children, Greg, Jeff and Theresa Shroyer and five grandchildren.

To get to the Mull farm north of Marshall turn west on Highway 20. Travel to EE North, which is approximately a mile past the EE south sign. Continue on EE past the railroad tracks and then take the first gravel road to the left. Mull farms is the first house on the left.

See also:

Annual Houston Mull cattle drive set to begin Oct. 31:
http://www.marshallnews.com/story/146347...
The Houston E. Mull Memorial Cattle Drive/'The epitome of everything good in rural America':
www.marshallnews.com/story/1288919.html
Annual Houston Mull Cattle Drive is a chance to honor a young man who wanted to make a career of farming:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1288475.html
$20,000 in scholarships passed out to local seniors in honor of Houston Mull:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1288198.html
Cold wind doesn't chill spirits during Houston Mull cattle drive:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1176344.html

Contact Marcia Gorrell at marshallag@socket.net