Empowering Dreams: New Diana Graduate Kendall Luther Receives Yamboree Empowerment Scholarship for Women

When Kendall Luther walked onto the campus of Tyler Junior College this fall, she carried more than her books. Kendall carried the hopes of her family and the encouragement of the community.

East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) named Luther, a graduate of New Diana High School, as the recipient of the Yamboree Empowerment Scholarship (YES) for Women Scholarship for the 2025–26 academic year. The scholarship is designed to help young women from Upshur County achieve their dreams of a higher education.

For Kendall, this award marks a milestone that her family has been dreaming of for generations.

“Attending college means everything to me,” she said. “Neither of my parents had the chance to go, and I want to be the first in my family to earn a degree. I’ve been working for the last three years to save money to help with college expenses. Receiving this scholarship makes my dream of going to college a reality.”

Luther plans to pursue a degree in sonography, as she was drawn to the field’s combination of technology and patient care. In high school, she was an active member of Student Council, served as Editor of the Yearbook, and participated in Art Club, all while maintaining the determination and focus that now defines her next chapter.

Now in its second year, the (YES) for Women Scholarship was created by Sally Greene and Laura Parsons-Sergent, Gilmer natives who grew up immersed in the traditions of the East Texas Yamboree. The scholarship honors their parents’ and grandparents’ decades of dedication to the beloved festival and the community that surrounds it.

“Returning to the Yamboree gave us an opportunity to look back and realize how fortunate we were to have had the advantages that we did growing up in Gilmer,” Greene said. “College was only a dream for many young women in the county then, and unfortunately, still is. Through the creation of this scholarship, we hope to help young women attend college who might not otherwise have the resources.”

The endowed scholarship was established through initial contributions from Greene and Parsons-Sergent and continues to grow through a partnership with the East Texas Yamboree Association. Over the next 15 years, the Association will contribute to the fund with the goal of sustaining a renewable scholarship that follows each recipient throughout her college career.

“Each year, as we award this coveted scholarship, we renew our goal to give back to our county,” said Parsons-Sergent. “Each principal who learns more about this unique financial gift is heartened by the opportunity for his or her young female seniors to pursue their dreams of a higher education.”

The (YES) for Women Scholarship award is part of a larger mission at ETCF to support students across their 32-county service area. This year, more than $1.1 million in scholarships were awarded to East Texas students. The Foundation reviewed over 10,000 applications.

“ETCF is grateful for the opportunity to support Laura, Sally, and the East Texas Yamboree Association with the awarding of this scholarship to such a deserving graduate,” said Kyle Penney, President of ETCF. “It is an honor for the Foundation to be the steward of these resources while assisting a deserving student on the path to achieving their educational goals.”

As Kendall attends her first semester at Tyler Junior College, she knows she’s stepping into something bigger than herself. The (YES) for Women Scholarship isn’t just helping her afford college, it’s a symbol of faith, tradition, and the power of community investing in their future.

About ETCF.org
East Texas East Texas Communities Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving 32 counties in East Texas. The Foundation distributed $19.9 million in grants in 2024 and currently manages over $137 million in over 445 unique charitable funds which support non-profit organizations and student scholarships. The Foundation, which was formed in 1989, has awarded over $157 million in grants and scholarships since its inception. Philanthropy builds community and changes lives. East Texas Communities Foundation supports philanthropy by offering simple ways for donors to achieve their charitable goals.