Donor Biography

Kent M. Thomas(1938-2023) grew up working various jobs to help support his parents and brothers. Kent worked hard, long hours, to support his family of eight, as a salesman although he never went to college, yet, he loved to read and learn just about anything. When he wasn’t working, he was building and fixing just about anything in the house and on the car as a master craftsman, building furniture and cabinets. Yet, when it was time to play, you would find him, and his brothers, waterskiing, snow skiing, camping, and exploring the Uinta mountains. Kent loved to waterski and built his own boat at 16 years old. Kent also loved to help others. He would be the first to volunteer to help someone move, repair a car, fix or clean something in a home, and shovel someone’s driveway. Four months before he passed away, he was even helping a neighbor harvest apples.

Carolyn P. Thomas (1940-2022) was born to a silver miner, and grew up in the mountains of Northern Idaho. Carolyn moved 30 times by the time she was 16 years old, which taught her to be independent and make friends easily. She left home at 16, finished high school on her own, received a scholarship to nursing school, became a registered nurse, obtained a master’s degree in nursing, and pursued a doctorate. She was a graduate of the first class of Nurse-Midwives in Utah in 1967, worked in area hospitals, and also taught maternal-child health at the University of Utah College of Nursing for 22 years. Carolyn would always be found walking the neighborhood and making friends with everyone. Although she never thought she could do enough, you would find her helping others by providing medical advice, a warm meal, home-canned goods, and a good conversation. When Alzheimer’s took her memory, she would be found making others smile with a hug and her witty sarcasm. Carolyn, with Kent, taught six children to be resilient, independent, love hard work and hard play, and always be willing to help others. The Kent and Carolyn Thomas Scholarship celebrates their independent spirit, tenacity, hard work, and love of making others’ lives better.

Scholarship Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be an undergraduate entering their junior or senior year. Applicants should have a GPA between 2.8-3.4 and must submit 2-4 sentences reflecting on how they show independence, have a positive work ethic, and how they help others.

Additional Form Response Required

Varied Dollars/yr