Roger and Carolyn Kearns grew up in Ohio, and though they didn’t know each other well in high school, they reconnected at Ohio State when he called her by name.  Carolyn was an identical twin, and it was rare for people to learn the difference between her and her sister.  They began dating and later married.

Both Carolyn and Roger yearned for a college education as high school students. Carolyn readily earned her nursing certificate from the Grant School of Nursing with the support of her family and then worked at the hospital.  For Roger higher education was more of a challenge.  He was a good student, and his parents encouraged him in his studies, but they barely made ends meet on their small dairy farm, and they could not support Roger financially.  “We were poor,” Roger noted.  He worked summers and during college to pay his way, and though he started out with a small scholarship he was unable to keep high enough grades to maintain it.  After failing a couple of classes, Roger finally borrowed some money from his family so that he could focus on his studies and finish his coursework.  Eventually, he obtained a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

Carolyn chose to stay home when they started their family, and Roger went on to have a very successful career with Marathon Oil.  When he retired, he was the Rocky Mountain Region Production Manager in Cody, WY.  While living in Park County, he and Carolyn became engaged in the life of Northwest College, and Roger served on the NWC Foundation board of directors for 20 years.

“I think Northwest College is a really special institution, a gem in the West where rural students can get a terrific education for a fair price,” said Roger.  “NWC is a great steppingstone to a four-year institution or a career.” 

In 2004, the Kearns endowed an engineering scholarship with a $50,000 gift, plus matching funds from the State of Wyoming, out of their belief in NWC and in the importance of a college education.  “I want kids not to have to work as hard as I did, so they can focus on their education rather than on making ends meet,” Roger added. 

Roger and Carolyn’s commitment to helping students didn’t end with their scholarship’s creation. They also made provisions to leave a final legacy gift to the NWC Foundation from their estate.

Carloyn passed away in 2018 and Roger died in 2023. Following his death, the Kearns donated five percent of their remaining assets to augment their endowment.  With this additional contribution and investment growth over the years, the fund is valued at nearly $350,000 and will pay tuition for approximately 5 students each year.

  

This feature originally appeared in the NWC Foundation & Alumni 2024-2025 Annual Report and Honor Roll of Giving. Click here to view the full report.