Monica Bell Reser died in an automobile accident in July of 1980, just weeks before her 21st birthday. In October that same year, an endowment in memory of Monica was established at the college by her family. The first scholarship was awarded in 1983 and since its inception nearly 26 years ago, more than 20 young women have benefited from awards totaling more than $12,000.

Supporting the endowment in memory of Monica are her father and stepmother, Keith and Pat Bell, Brownsville, Texas; her mother, Sharon Allan, and sister, Marisa Walters, Tulsa, Okla.; her sister Rhonda Dobbs of Spring, Texas; her brother, K.B. Bell, and stepbrothers, Scott and Kelly Ravenstien, Great Bend.

Distinguished Service Award Recipients – Accepting the Barton County Community College Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the Monica Bell Reser family is Monica’s mother, Sharon Allan, left, Tulsa, Okla.; and Monica’s father, Keith Bell, Brownsville, Texas. Accompanying them for the presentation at Barton’s 36th commencement Thursday evening is Barton Institutional Advancement Director Darnell Holopirek, right.

Long after contributing funds necessary to establish the endowment, the Bell family has remained committed to its support. At various opportunities through the years, birthdays, holidays, or as memorials to lost loved ones, the family honors each other and the memory of Monica by contributing to the endowment. So unique is their continued support that it’s the first time the Foundation Board has recognized a family for its outstanding service to the college. “Our efforts through the years to build Monica’s memorial scholarship have been driven by so many things, including love, loss, pain, healing, growth, honor, gratitude and perpetuation of her spirit in the community she and we have all called home,” wrote Monica’s sister, Marisa. “Since her death, our lives have not been the same – forever changed. And I pray that over the years, the Monica Bell Reser Scholarship recipients and those around them have been and will be touched and given encouragement by Monica’s beautiful, living, vibrant, spirited presence as they take steps toward their future on the campus of Barton County Community College.”