Grady Gratitude: Margaret Ruppersburg Scholarship Fund established by her six children
Margaret Caruthers Ruppersburg (ABJ ’48) always knew the value of sharing stories. Before she was a mother of six children, she developed what became a lifelong affinity with the University of Georgia.
“She had a great experience at UGA as a student at Grady College in the 1940s,” said Hugh Ruppersburg, Margaret’s firstborn child.
The daughter of a crop duster and a school teacher, Margaret moved often in her childhood. After her family settled in College Park, Georgia, she earned a journalism degree from Grady College.
discussing the yearbook with longtime journalism professor Tyus Butler (ABJ ’35) and classmate Virginia Gatewood in the mid-1940s.
“She was a news lover to the very end of her life,” said Beth King, Margaret’s youngest child. “She had really happy memories of her time at Georgia.”
Margaret Ruppersburg died in February at the age of 91. Her six children – Hugh Ruppersburg, Margaret Watkins, Karen Keenum, Renee Hudson, Luke Ruppersburg and Beth King – are establishing the Margaret Caruthers Ruppersburg scholarship fund at Grady College in her honor.
“We felt like one of the best ways we could honor our Mom was to give others the same opportunity she gave each of us – to study whatever we loved at the place she held so dear,” said Beth King.
The annual scholarship will provide $1,000 to a junior or senior majoring in journalism with demonstrated excellence in writing. The scholarship honors Margaret Ruppersburg’s love of education, news and people.
“She was a good friend to a lot of people,” said Margaret Watkins. “She was good company because she was well informed, engaged with people’s stories and interested in life beyond her home.”
Margaret Ruppersburg never sought attention, but was always passionate about anything pertaining to her family or university.
“Until she died, she honored the tradition of wearing red and black on UGA game days,” said Watkins.
The Ruppersburg children are a close family because of the example their mother displayed.
“People always commented on how warm and gracious she was to them,” said Hugh Ruppersburg, “I think that is an important aspect of her character.”
The Ruppersburg children say their mother always supported their interests and encouraged their pursuit of education. This new scholarship ensures future storytellers can have similar experiences at Grady College and cultivate their own legacy just as Margaret Caruthers Ruppersburg did seven decades ago.
Photos were provided by the Ruppersburg family.