The FHS Alumni Association is pleased to announce that a scholarship honoring the teaching career of Catherine Zagula (1969-2009) has been fully endowed by Malcolm R. Shrimplin, an FHS graduate. To be awarded this spring, the purpose of this scholarship is to encourage young women to further study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
"I'm grateful for the year I spent learning various Pre-Calculus concepts from Mrs. Zagula", said Malcolm. "She was an excellent teacher who clearly cared about her students. The knowledge that I gained from Mrs. Zagula served me well when taking advanced math courses for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I encourage others who benefitted from Mrs. Zagula's tutelage, along with those who want to encourage women pursuing careers in STEM-related fields, to contribute to this scholarship."
Educational Background
Catherine earned a Bachelor of Science in Business majoring in Marketing and minoring in Mathematics in 1969 from Miami University. Immediately after graduating from Miami, she attended Franciscan University to acquire her teaching certification. She also studied at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Ashland University for additional coursework.
Teaching Career Journey
Career Timeline
1969-1977: Steubenville High SchoolAlgebra 1-2 (8 years)
1977-1980: Family Time3-year break
1980-1986: Jefferson County Technical CollegePre-Calculus, Business Math, Algebra (6 years)
1986-2009: Fredericktown High SchoolAlgebra, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus (23 years)
23 Years at Fredericktown High School
Catherine finished her teaching career with a 23-year stint at Fredericktown High School. Reflecting on her career, Catherine said, "I thoroughly enjoyed teaching Algebra, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus at Fredericktown High School. The faculty was all about preparing students for their future careers."
Catherine's Vision for Women in STEM
"Encouraging young women to investigate and pursue the many opportunities in math and science will be enhanced by these scholarships."
About Malcolm R. Shrimplin
Malcolm graduated at the top of his class at FHS in 1988 and earned a BSBA with a specialization in Operations Research, cum laude from Bowling Green State University in 1992. He also holds a master's degree from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Management Science. Malcolm and his husband, David, reside in Scottsdale, AZ.
His current employer, Applied Materials, has provided matching funds for this series of scholarships via its Employee Giving Program.
Third in the STEM Series
This scholarship is the third in a series of four that are planned to honor teaching careers of female STEM teachers from Fredericktown High school and to encourage women to pursue careers in STEM-related fields. The first two, the "Rachel A. Gregg Women in STEM Scholarship" and the "Ruth E. Auker Women in STEM Scholarship", were awarded in the spring of 2021 and 2022, respectively.
STEM Scholarship Series Progress
1st: Rachel A. Gregg Women in STEM (Spring 2021)
2nd: Ruth E. Auker Women in STEM (Spring 2022)
3rd: Catherine Zagula Women in STEM (Current)
4th: Planned to complete the series
Corporate Support: Applied Materials Employee Giving Program provides matching funds
How to Donate
Tax-deductible donations to the Catherine Zagula Women in STEM Scholarship may be made by writing a check payable to "FHS ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP FUND"; note "FHS Zagula STEM" on the memo line; and mail it to The Knox County Foundation, P.O. Box 309, Mount Vernon, OH 43050-0309.
To donate online, please click on the "Donate" button on the FHS Alumni website at www.fredericktownalumni.org and be sure to note "FHS Zagula STEM" when donating.
Donations may also be made to the entire series of four scholarships by just noting "FHS STEM" when doing so. These donations will be allocated to keep the payout of these four scholarships across the years as consistent as possible.
Catherine Zagula's Legacy
A dedicated mathematics educator who spent 40 years teaching algebra through AP calculus, passionate about preparing students for future careers and encouraging young women to pursue opportunities in math and science.