On March 3 2024, our beloved Teacher, Mother, Sister, Daughter, “Bunna”  and Friend to so many, lost her long and courageous battle with cancer.

Kathy Stone grew up in Tecumseh, Michigan and graduated from Tecumseh High School. She received an undergraduate degree in Education from Madonna University and was proud to earn her Master's Degree from the University of Michigan in Dearborn. She dedicated her teaching career of over three decades to helping special needs children and their families. Kathy had a real and positive impact on the lives of hundreds of children and their families in the Dearborn, Michigan, Plymouth, Michigan, and Amherst, Virginia school districts.

Kathy loved her school and her students at Amherst. She often spoke about the wonderful sense of community she felt both within the School System and the community. She was a highly respected and awarded educator and leaves a lasting legacy through the love and dedication she gave to her students.

Kathy was an avid reader and a very talented writer. She utilized her writing skills to share her difficult but inspiring fight against cancer. She became an inspiration to many, as she shared her grief, fear, moments of joy, and revelations about life and love and all that she held dear. 

In her memory, we wish to share her words of wisdom:

“Remember your WHY”

“Never Miss a Sunrise”

“Find the Joy”

“Buy the shoes”

The Kathy Stone Scholarship is intended to support students who have learning differences, general classroom difficulties, or who have faced other adversities in life, but diligently strive for success nevertheless. We intend to support and encourage these students to believe in their dreams and aspirations, and know that they are just as deserving as those ranking at the “top of the class”. We wish to use this scholarship as we believe Kathy would appreciate most, by assisting those for whom school has been more challenging, but who still desire to pursue higher education to make their dreams come true.