The best teachers continue to impact students years after graduation, but for late Callaway Middle School Principal Deborah Dunn, even students who may have never met her are able to continue to learn and grow thanks to a scholarship in her honor.

The Deborah Dunn Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by her husband, Kevin Dunn, in order to honor her memory after her teaching career was cut short by a battle with cancer. On April 26, Dunn will perform at Pure Life Studios to raise funds for the scholarship.

“When my wife and I were married, she was a realist, and she would talk about death,” Dunn said. “She always said that if she should pass before I did to make sure at her funeral, people would not be spending a lot of money on flowers and all that good stuff. She said, ‘Take that money and help somebody further their education.’ So, that is what I did when she passed.”

Now in its third year, the scholarship continues to support students.

“After that, I felt the need to keep the scholarship going to honor her, to honor her legacy and her legacy as a teacher, as an administrator,” Dunn said. “So, this was a creative way I came up with to help raise the funds for the scholarship. This is the third scholarship.”

According to Dunn, the scholarship has given away $3,600 to Callaway High School graduating seniors planning to further study the sciences. Deborah Dunn was a science teacher at CHS before she became the principal at CMS.

“She was a science major, and she taught science,” Dunn said. “She loved science, so we keep it with someone who is continuing in the sciences.”

Dunn said his wife also loved music, and while he is best known for his Christian, gospel music, he will begin with a set of romantic ballads. 

“She played a vital part in where I am now with the music that God has given me,” Dunn said. “She planted a lot of seeds in my life, so I intend to honor and plant seeds of her life to be a blessing to other people because she loved music.”

Dunn will also perform inspirational music at the concert. Other performers will include Robin Treadwell on the saxophone, Eddie Bo Robinson on the keyboard and Joel Forbus on the drums.

The concert will take place at Pure Life Studios at 206 Clark Street in LaGrange on Friday, April 26. Tickets cost $20 at the door, but space is limited, so advanced ticket purchase is recommended. For more information, visit Purelifelagrange.com. 

Scholarship donations can also be made through Cash App to $DeborahDunnMemorial.