Grants

The General Fund’s main sources of monetary support are membership dues, memorial gifts, and donations from individuals and class reunions. Through this fund, the Foundation provides financial assistance to the students, faculty, and staff of Tucson High throughout each academic year.

Awards

Each spring, at the request of the alumni/donors listed below, the Foundation presents awards in their names to graduating seniors who excel in specific areas.

Current Giving

Annually, the Nix Family continues to give $250 to an outstanding photography student. Mr. Nix created the award in honor of his brother Michael Nix, a Tucson High student who died in an automobile accident just a few weeks before he was due to graduate in 1959. Michael Nix was an exceptional photography student under Mr. Harry Goldstein and over the years, the Nix Family has continued to donate money to the Badger Foundation to keep his memory and love for photography alive.

In addition, the creation of the Award was also inspired when Mr. Nix read an article in the newspaper about a retired THMS teacher Mr. Jerry Halfmann, and his nationally recognized and award-winning photography program. He taught from 1976-2011, was loved by his students, and is a recipient of the Badger Foundation’s Hall of Fame recognition.

History of Generosity

From 1996-2021, Frances and John Barringer funded the Barringer Award, annually recognizing students who exceled in Fine Arts and Music. Otis Chidester bequeathed $8,000 to fund the Chidester Award which recognized the achievements of Photography and Graphic Arts students from 1997-2021.

In 1999, to honor her late husband’s achievements in Mathematics and Computer Technology, Marie Palmer made a $6,000 donation to fund the Palmer Award which recognized students who displayed excellence in those fields, and in 2002, Wanda Rice bequeathed $20,000 with the request that the Badger Foundation begin an endowment fund from which the interest could be used to fund the Badger Foundation General Grants and Gifts Fund (The General Fund).

If you too would like to leave a lasting legacy by honoring those who came before you and those exceptional students who will come after you, please email the Badger Foundation at thsbadgerfoundation@gmail.com !