Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Scholarship
The Washington Companies, founded by industrialist and entrepreneur Dennis R. Washington, are privately held companies active in rail and marine transportation, aviation, environmental remediation construction, real estate, heavy equipment sales and service, and mining. Dennis and Phyllis Washington share a keen interest in philanthropy, founding the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in 1988 which serves as a platform for their personal giving and to coordinate the charitable activities of the Washington Companies. Helping disadvantaged youth realize the dream of attaining a higher education is a long-standing personal interest of Dennis and Phyllis Washington. The Washingtons understand the importance of higher education to remain competitive in the global market place. More importantly, they know that an investment in the human mind will produce immeasurable returns for the individual and society as a whole. The first scholarships available to MSU Billings students were awarded in academic year 1992-1993.
Impact
“I am so grateful to have received the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Scholarship. Thank you so much for helping to ease the burden of school expenses. As a wife and mother of two children under the age of four, the thought of going back to school was almost unbearable. My current responsibilities plus the fact that my husband is still pursuing his own Bachelor’s degree almost deterred me from even investigating the possibility of going back to school. I want my kids to know that I worked hard when reaching for my goals and didn’t give up when it got hard. Teaching them to be self-sufficient is a high priority and I hope to be the example I need to be for them. Thank you again.” — Kristal M., Accounting major