BLESS Celebrates 25 Years - 1988 to 2013

The Bartlesville Lincoln Elementary School Scholarship – B.L.E.S.S. Fund Inc. awarded $22,750 as interest free loans to thirteen college bound students on July 26th during the annual B.L.E.S.S. Awards Ceremony. The function was attended by several recipients, family members, B.L.E.S.S. officials and two B.L.E.S.S. scholars who are now physicians.

Kumar Krishnan, Vice President of B.L.E.S.S. opened the meeting with brief introductions and the remembrance that B.L.E.S.S. was initiated 25 years ago in 1988. Photograph of the inauguration ceremony with the unveiling of the seven feet wing span sculptured Bald eagle in front of Service & Technology Corporation – STC was displayed during the function. Richard Conover, Trustee, reviewed the B.L.E.S.S. history along with the first and only fund raising effort to establish the trust fund. The fund drive included the sale of paintings by the famous Helen Howerton, an artist from Tulsa and a well known artist, Joanne Clark, from Bartlesville. A portion of the proceeds were contributed by the artists to B.L.E.S.S. This was followed by contributions from STC, its employees and several supporters. The fund achieved its goal and began scholarship awards in 1994.

Seventy-eight young people have attended college with B.L.E.S.S. assistance. These include engineers, technology graduates, scientists, educators, business people, military, crime lab official, fine art majors and others.

Ron Howerton, a senior engineering professional, delivered the keynote speech emphasizing the importance of higher education and his own experience in career advancement due to his education in mechanical engineering.

Mark Knackstedt, President of B.L.E.S.S., explained on the advantage of B.L.E.S.S. even though it is perceived as a loan. He elaborated the substantial savings B.L.E.S.S. loan provides because it is interest free. He added that several thousand dollars are saved during the four years of obtaining the loan and the hundred dollars per month payback period spanning 70 months.

Additional information on obtaining a scholarship is available at: www.blessfundassociation.com.

Chairman and Founder of B.L.E.S.S., K. Vasudevan urged the students to dream and to make their dreams come true. He emphasized that there is no nation on earth that makes it more possible to accomplish their dreams than the United States of America.

Two B.L.E.S.S. scholars Dr. Nicole Cupp and Dr. Gopal Chandrasekharan attended the B.L.E.S.S. function and shared their appreciation of B.L.E.S.S. Dr. Cupp just began her practice in Bartlesville in Podiatry and Dr. Chandrasekharan will begin his work in Pediatrics in Tulsa very shortly.

B.L.E.S.S. is a non-profit Oklahoma Corporation open to all. Its primary goal is to offer help for average students from middle income families, but will consider all applications.

Contributions to B.L.E.S.S. are tax deductible and are an excellent way to honor one of the oldest schools in Bartlesville, built in 1914, its students and teachers. Those interested in contributing may contact our offices at 918.336.8161 or e-mail nancyjh@stceagle.net.