A Note from Sharon Holcomb, Fund Sponsor
People can be very different from you, but they can still be good people. That lesson learned as a foreign exchange student has shaped my life. Of course, many things have shaped my life, starting with my loving parents, Olive and Dorman Holcomb. They made sure my brothers and I went to school and church and were taken on many camping trips. “We’re not lost, we’re exploring” became a family motto. Living in Germany, which has excellent public transportation, I learned to explore without adults. Marriage to Fred Farnell and the opportunity to live with him in Texas, California, Ohio, and Japan as an Air Force spouse has also given us many opportunities for “exploring.”
I’m a firm believer in public schools and a firm believer in travel. Every child deserves a solid education enriched by positive experiences.
The children in our lives also shape us. For me, they include big brothers Dorman and Ward Holcomb and the little German children who became my brothers and sisters, Arne, Ariane, Ole, and Phil Eggert. Most of all, Fred and I have been blessed by our children, Matthew, Patrick, and Ariane Farnell.
As Fred and I tried to decide what legacy we wanted to leave behind, giving young people the opportunity for foreign travel and study seemed fundamental. The lesson that people can be very different from you and still be good people is one that can shape lives and help bring peace to our world. Our wish is that this gift does just that for years to come.
Please visit Sharon Holcomb’s fund page to read her full testimonial about her scholarship, view additional family photos, or donate to this fund.
