WESSON — A $500,000 endowment from a Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege alumnus will fund a student scholarship and help facultyenhance teaching abilities, school officials announced Monday.

The endowment from Texas businessman L. Frank Pitts, a member ofCo-Lin Class of 1931, was announced during Monday’s openingceremonies for the school’s 75th anniversary celebration.

“I love this school, and it has had a big influence on my life,”said Pitts, who also attended Co-Lin when it was an agriculturalhigh school.

Co-Lin President Dr. Howell Garner said he spoke with Pittsabout how to utilize endowment funds. He said it was determinedthat two funds would be established, one to provide a studentscholarship and the other for faculty enrichment.

Garner said criteria for the scholarship was still beingdeveloped. He said it would likely be based on an ACT score,student financial need and other factors.

The faculty enrichment funds will address an area that hassuffered in recent years due to tough budget times, Garner said. Hesaid there has been a 38 percent cut in that area over the lastthree years.

The enrichment funds will help send instructors to seminars,workshops and other programs to improve their teaching skills andknowledge.

“The faculty is absolutely going to be on cloud nine aboutthis,” Garner said. “This is a fantastic thing to do.”

Pitts, whose background includes a successful career in the oiland energy business, complimented Garner on his leadership ofCo-Lin.

“He is carrying this operation to a whole new level,” Pittssaid.