PASADENA, Texas - The San Jacinto College Foundation has announced an endowed scholarship for nursing students in honor of Mr. James “Mickey” Powell, husband of Foundation Board Member Jackie Powell.

James “Mickey” Powell, pictured with his wife Jackie, will have an endowed scholarship for nursing students named in his honor through the San Jacinto College Foundation.

Powell's wife and sons originally established a scholarship in his name as a Christmas present last year.  Since then, Powell, a long-time Pasadena resident, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his family, friends and employees at Best American Scrap Metal have worked diligently to raise money to have the scholarship endowed.  Since the scholarship was first established, Powell has asked that any gift given to him be a donation to the San Jacinto College Foundation for the scholarship.  On December 1, 2007, Powell's employees made a $5,000 donation toward the scholarship, bringing their two-year contribution to over $8,000 since the scholarship was established.  Powell himself has donated a significant amoung, and various family members and friends have contributed the remainder.

“Mickey is a generous man and a best friend,” said Liz Webb, wife of Foundation President Wayne Webb.  The Webb's are close family friends of the Powell's.  “This is such a great honor for not only the Powell family, but for San Jacinto College as well.”

Since his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, Powell has become close to his hospital and hospice nurses.  It is because of their continuous care, generosity, and support of his family that he opted to have the scholarship designated for a nursing student.  Endowed scholarships through the San Jacinto College Foundation must be at least $25,000.

“This is a wonderful way to honor such a beloved man,” said San Jacinto College Vice President for Resource Development, Susan Arscott.

The 54-year-old Powell and wife Jackie have been married for 24 years.  They started the Best American Scrap Metal business in Houston over 21 years ago.  The couple has two sons, Anthony and Sean, a daughter-in-law Jennifer, and two granddaughters, Hannah and Gracie.  Powell is one of 14 children.  The couple resides in Pasadena where Jackie has been a member of the San Jacinto College Foundation Board for three years.

The James M. Powell endowed scholarship will be available from the Foundation beginning in the fall of 2008.  For more information about the scholarship, or to donate to the San Jacinto College Foundation, please visit the Foundation page of the San Jac website at http://www.sanjac.edu/, or call 281-998-6104.

To see more pictures of the Powell family or to leave a message for Mickey Powell, please visit http://familylobby.com/mickeypowell.