Connie Lough Memorial Scholarship
Connie Lough was a founding member of Rebuilding Together Yellowstone County, which was organized in 2000. Connie was not only instrumental in establishing the organization; she was a dedicated and committed board member and served as the president for many years. Rebuilding Together board members are strictly volunteers who work to preserve affordable housing for seniors and low-income family homeowners, making repairs to their homes to ensure health and safety. Connie’s leadership in taking on large-scope projects was unmatchable. With Connie’s involvement in this organization, she became interested in social services; thus began her desire to obtain a degree in Human Services so she could better serve those in need. When Connie was diagnosed with cancer, she decided not only to fight the battle, but with optimistic belief in victory and a future, she enrolled in college at MSU Billings at age 52 to earn her degree. Unfortunately, Connie passed away in April 2013, one semester shy of receiving her bachelor’s degree. In memory of Connie and her dedication to helping others, Rebuilding Together Yellowstone County established the Connie Lough Memorial Scholarship in August 2013. Rebuilding Together wishes to assist non-traditional students who have qualities similar to Connie — someone dedicated to assisting others in the community, improving the lives of others, and who is a volunteer. The first scholarship was awarded in academic year 2013-2014.
Impact
“I wanted to write you to express my heartfelt thanks for selecting me to receive the Connie Lough Memorial Scholarship at MSU Billings. It’s a humbling feeling to receive such a generous gift of scholarship, but receiving this from you is all the more meaningful because of the experience I have with Rebuilding Together. Several years ago, while living in Texas, I had a number of opportunities to head up fundraising efforts to help finance a collaborative project between Heroes at Home and Rebuilding Together. A few months later, I also had the opportunity to spend a day working on that project home for a local veteran. The potential that we uncovered in that house and watching its transformation, over time, back into the home it once was, is part of what drives me to the field of human services and social policy. All too often we are quick to write off things we perceive to be old and broken rather than looking for the deeper value that may hide below the charred surface. This is true of both homes and people. Through human service and social policy work, I hope that I can continue to find ways to help people and revitalize my community in much the same way that Connie Lough and Rebuilding Together have done. Thank you gain for your incredible generosity, in both this scholarship which you have chosen to fund and award to me, and your ongoing work in Yellowstone County. I hope that I can live up to Connie’s and your own legacy of meaningful change through hard work.” — Kendra C., Human Services and Sociology major