Minnie Hopkins’ heart still beats.

Although she died in 1998, she lives on through the Minnie Hopkins Scholarship awarded to four Compton Elementary School sixth-graders. Hopkins was principal at Lathrop Elementary School before she died. The school’s name later was changed to Compton.

Changes are in the works for the scholarship program, which is under the Heartbeats to the City umbrella.

According to Dr. Gloria Dunnivan, Ph.D., executive director of Heartbeats, changes will be made in the fall, due to the closing of Compton School this year.  

“We started this fund out of an intense love for the students in the Compton neighborhood,” Dunnivan said. “That has continued to be our focus. We just don’t provide services; we provide hope. Hope is the anchor to our soul.”

Next year, the scholarship will be open to elementary students citywide because Compton students will be spread throughout the city. Charlene Jackson, program director for Heartbeats, said scholarship recipients receive $500 when graduating from the sixth grade, another $500 after eighth-grade graduation, then the final $500 when they graduate from high school. The scholarship is funded through the Stark Community Foundation.

In addition to scholarships, Heartbeats to the City also offers afterschool programs. In the fall, the program will be offered at Allen, Belden and Madge Youtz elementary schools.

ABOUT HEARTBEATS
TO THE CITY:
WHO: Heartbeats to the City, 1352 Market Ave. S, Canton.
WHAT: Minnie Hopkins Scholarship
BOARD MEMBERS: Pat Williams, Cynthia Hopkins, Jeff Fisher, Guy Renkert, and Amy Renkert Thomas; Fisher, Minnie Hopkins and Thomas are founders.
PROCEEDS: Benefit
scholarship fund at Stark Community Foundation.
DONATIONS: Send donations to Stark Community Foundation, 400 Market Ave. N, Canton, OH 44702. Designate donation to Heartbeats to the City Minnie Hopkins Scholarship fund or to the afterschool program.