Between them, Tom and Mary Luebbe have dedicated an extraordinary 85 years to educating young people.
They appreciate the transformative role teachers play in shaping lives and fostering a love for learning. The impact of a great teacher, they know, is immeasurable.
That’s why they established the Mary and Thomas Luebbe Scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time in the spring to a graduating senior from Butler High School who plans to major in education in college.
“We value the importance of students being instructed by excellent teachers,” said Tom Luebbe, a retired Butler High School principal. “This scholarship was established to encourage graduates to pursue teaching as a career.”
During his 47-year career, Tom made a lasting impact in various roles, including teacher, band director, assistant principal and principal. He began his teaching career in Cincinnati at La Salle High School, where he taught math, music and physics as well as serving as the band director. Tom’s teaching career expanded to Moeller High School for four years before returning to La Salle, where he spent five years as an assistant principal. He later served as principal at La Salle for 17 years and at Butler High School for seven years.
Mary dedicated her career to nurturing creativity as an elementary art teacher in the Talawanda City School District. After her retirement, she continued to inspire students, working as a long-term substitute art teacher in the Princeton City School District and Three Rivers Local School District. In addition, she spent 23 years as an instructor of art education at Miami University, where she prepared future art teachers to excel in the classroom and cultivate the artistic talents of their own students.
“Together, Tom and Mary’s careers reflect a deep and shared passion for education,” said Julie Trick, co-chair of the Vandalia-Butler Foundation. “We’re honored that they’ve chosen to give back to the profession they love through this new scholarship.”
In 2024, the Vandalia-Butler Foundation awarded $48,345 in scholarships to 33 outstanding graduating seniors. Interested students apply in the winter through a process coordinated by the Vandalia-Butler Foundation’s Education Fund Advisory Committee, guidance counselors and The Dayton Foundation. Recipients are honored at Senior Awards Night in the spring.
For information about starting a scholarship, please contact the Vandalia-Butler Foundation or call Michelle Brown, director of scholarship services for The Dayton Foundation, at 937-225-9965.