The Independence Community College (ICC) Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Wicker Family Scholarship Fund. This endowed fund will provide an annual scholarship in honor of two esteemed former instructors, Alice Cobble and Lora Todd. The fund has been generously endowed by Allan Wicker and his sister, Kathleen Wicker Johnson.
Cody Oates, Executive Director of the ICC Foundation, expressed his gratitude and excitement about the new scholarship. “We are incredibly grateful to the Wicker family for their generosity and dedication to honoring the legacy of Alice Cobble and Lora Todd,” said Oates. “Endowed scholarships like this one provide lasting benefits to our students, offering financial support that helps them focus on their studies and achieve their academic goals.”
The Wicker Family encourages those who wish to join them in honoring and recognizing the contributions of Cobble and Todd to make their own gifts to the Foundation, which will be added to the scholarship fund. The ICC Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Wicker family for their generosity and commitment to education.
“The Wicker Endowed Fund marks the 67th endowed fund established at the Foundation, bringing us closer to our goal of 100 endowed scholarship funds as part of our 100th-anniversary fundraising initiative launched in late 2022,” Oates continued. “Endowed scholarships are a vital resource for our students, providing a stable and ongoing source of financial aid that can make a significant difference in their educational journey.”
Lora Todd was a dedicated English instructor at ICC from 1947 to 1967. She inspired generations of students with her deep understanding of American literature, including works such as Huckleberry Finn and John Brown's Body. Todd's incisive comments on student essays and high academic standards were highly valued by her students. She often enriched class discussions with her experiences as a Red Cross volunteer during World War II and was known for her willingness to provide extra help outside of class. Lora Todd passed away in 1991.
Alice Cobble Henry joined the ICC faculty in 1959 after many years as a Christian missionary in Congo, where she taught French. Following the tragic death of her husband and fellow missionary, Robin Cobble, she returned to the United States. Known to her students as Madame Cobble, she was an inspirational and dynamic French teacher who immersed her students in the language from the first day. She generously offered extra time to help students improve their French skills. After leaving ICC in 1966, she continued teaching French in Hawaii and India, where she married fellow missionary Tom Henry. Alice Cobble Henry passed away in 2007 at the age of 99.
For more information about the Wicker Family Scholarship Fund or to learn how to establish your own endowed fund, please contact Cody Oates with the ICC Foundation.
Contact:
Cody Oates
Executive Director
Independence Community College Foundation
coates@indycc.edu