Anne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship Established at LCC Foundation

Inspired by the compassionate nursing care his wife received during her courageous battle with cancer, Doug Allen has established the Anne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship at the Labette Community College Foundation. The permanently endowed scholarship will help future nursing students achieve their educational dreams while honoring Anne's lifelong commitment to education, philanthropy, and serving others.

Allen has committed $20,000 to establish the scholarship, including an initial gift of $10,000. His generosity will also be amplified through the Pete and Mary Hughes Matching Fund, which provides a 50% match for new endowed scholarships at LCC.

"I wanted to do something that honors Anne because of the terrific treatment she received, in part by great nurses," Allen said. "My hope is that this scholarship will help deserving nursing students achieve their dreams and ultimately strengthen the care available in our community."

Anne dedicated her life to helping others through two very different, yet complementary, careers. She spent 20 years as a teacher and reading specialist in California before moving to Parsons, where she became the first Executive Director of the Parsons Area Community Foundation. Her leadership helped lay the groundwork for a culture of philanthropy that continues to benefit the region today.

"Creating this scholarship is a perfect blend of Anne's two careers," Allen said. "She believed deeply in education, and she was passionate about giving back to the community."

The Allen family has longstanding ties to Labette Community College. Doug and Anne both served as adjunct instructors at LCC, two of their four sons, John and Alexander, attended the college, and their eldest son, Nick, got his start in the grant-writing profession while serving as an LCC grant writer. Today, he owns a successful grant consulting business, making the family's connection to LCC one that spans generations and careers. The Allens have four sons, Nick, Peter, John, and Alexander, and five grandchildren.

The Anne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship will support second-year LCC nursing students, with preference given to those interested in oncology or hospice nursing. As a permanently endowed scholarship, the principal will remain invested, allowing scholarship awards to be funded from investment earnings and ensuring Anne's legacy continues to impact students for generations to come.

The scholarship also benefits from the Pete and Mary Hughes Matching Fund, which was created to encourage the establishment of new endowed scholarships for LCC students. The fund provides a 50% match for gifts of $5,000 or more, as well as any additional gifts made during the scholarship's first year. Since its launch, the Hughes Matching Fund has inspired the creation of 13 endowed scholarships, multiplying the impact of donor generosity and expanding educational opportunities for LCC students.

"The Hughes Matching Fund has allowed generous donors like Doug to create an even greater legacy," said Lindi Forbes, Executive Director of the LCC Foundation & Alumni Association. "Anne devoted her life to investing in people—first through teaching and later through philanthropy. This scholarship beautifully brings those passions together and will continue changing lives for students and their families for generations. We are deeply grateful to Doug and the Allen family for choosing to honor Anne in such a meaningful and enduring way."

The Hughes Matching Fund is available on a first-paid, first-served basis, but the remaining matching dollars are becoming increasingly limited. Individuals interested in establishing an endowed scholarship are encouraged to contact the LCC Foundation soon to take advantage of this unique opportunity while matching funds remain available.

For more information about establishing a scholarship or the Hughes Matching Fund, contact Forbes at lindif@labette.edu or (620) 820-1212.