Ms. Tessie O. Edwards Memorial Scholarship

The Black Student Catholic Educational Endowment Trust stands on the shoulders of champions for equality like Ms. Tessie O. Edwards. A teacher for 46 years, and the first African American teacher in the Archdiocese of Omaha, Tessie taught for 23 years at Creighton Prep where she was the head of the History department. In the late 1940s and early 1950s she was a member of the Omaha DePorres Club, advocating for civil rights in Omaha.  Tessie was passionate about democracy and civic engagement, racial equality, multiculturalism and her Catholic faith. She believed in Catholic education’s ability to transform lives, transform society and make our nation truly just. It is because of her example that in 2014 the Black Student Catholic Scholarship Fund of Omaha board chose to rename the scholarship the Ms. Tessie O. Edwards Memorial Scholarship.

We aim to increase the endowment trust fund value from $349,400 to $500,000, allowing us to increase the distribution amount and help more students realize a Catholic education.

The Black Student Catholic Educational Endowment Trust is managed by the Catholic Future Foundation of Northeast Nebraska.