The scholarship will be awarded annually to a minority student from Sikeston, Mo., Charleston, Mo., or the surrounding area who is enrolled in a secondary education program at the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC). Second preference will be given to a minority student enrolled in a teacher education program at SAHEC. A SAHEC committee will determine the recipient and make the $500 award.

Fred Yeo was born in Washington, D.C. He received a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of California-Riverside in 1969. After college, he spent five years teaching middle school science in Watts, Calif.

"This scholarship means so much to me because of my experience in Watts, California," Yeo said. "This was an inner city school near south Los Angeles with large classrooms of 40 to 50 students and very little resources. This scholarship will help students in our area with limited resources."

Yeo completed a juris doctoral degree in 1977 from Western States College of Law in Fullerton, Calif. In 1993, he received a doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Yeo began his teaching career at Southeast in 1996 and has been chair of the Department of Middle and Secondary Education for the past three years. He also serves as the coordinator for alternative certification at Southeast. In 1999, he received the Southeast Pride Award.

Nancy Yeo was born in San Francisco. She received an associate of arts degree as a registered nurse (RN) from Long Beach City College in Long Beach, Calif. Currently, she is an RN and medical transcriptionist working from her home.