Howerton Family Endowment

Purpose:
The Fund is established to provide scholarships to Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Social Work, and Sociology majors at the University. This endowment honors the Howerton Family: Paul W. Howerton, DSL, Management Information Stems Helen V. Howerton, MS Social work, Social work Charles P. Howe1ion, Ph.D., Computer Science and Software Engineering Dianne W. Howe1ion, BA, Communication Media Management Paul W. Howerton was recognized both nationally and internationally as an authority in systems design and applications, as well as an educator. In addition to degrees from Northwestern University in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Linguistics, Dr. Howerton held certificates in Hindi from the University of Calcutta, India, and Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies from the American University, Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Howerton was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit for outstanding service to the Central Intelligence Agency where he “pioneered work in the field of translation of languages by machine and contributed greatly to the Agency’s efforts in the fields of linguistic analysis, publications procurement and the organization and control of information for its most effective use.” His career also included work with the United States General Accounting Office, the Civil Service Commission, the FBI, National Police Academies, the Naval Security Group Command, and the U.S. Marine Corps, as an information management consultant. He lectured extensively on the computer and its associated technologies. Helen served as Division Director at the Administration for Children & Families, a part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Her extraordinary insight into where research gaps existed and how to fill them led to the first systematic examination of informal low-income childcare. In addition, her leadership skills in strategic planning influenced both research and program practice in the child welfare field. The resulting performance plans for ACF were acknowledged to be quite outstanding. The outcomes were vital tools used to help move state and local programs away from the process toward a stronger focus on better outcomes for children and families. Her contribution to the child welfare field is remarkable and of lasting importance.

Charles P. Howerton, Ph.D. was a Professor of Computer Science at Metropolitan State College of Denver from 1988 to 1999 where he was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Computer Science degree program. Academically, Dr. Howerton held an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer Programming from Northern Virginia Community College, a Baccalaureate Degree in Technology of Management from American University, a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science from The University of Denver, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Education and Computer Science also from The University of Denver. Dr. Charles Howerton took his first computer programming course in June 1957 3 days after graduating high school, from that point on he attended computer programming courses from a wide range of computers as the field matured. He has worked in the field for various computer manufacturers where he almost always taught users how to program and utilize computers. He worked as a Systems Programmer for the National Technical Information Service in the Department of Commerce. From there he moved to FLITE; The Federal Legal Information Through Electronics a service of in the USAF Judge Advocate General’s Office where he supervised the development of systems for searching text. Later he moved to the National Bureau of Standards Technical Support Office in Boulder Colorado as a Computer Scientist. He began his academic teaching career at The Colorado School of Mines as an Associate Professor of Computer Science on loan from the Bureau of Standards. After receiving his Ph.D. he moved to New Mexico Highland University where he designed the Computer Science program. Two years later he moved to Metropolitan State College where he was appointed as the Program Director a Professor and where he again designed the Computer Science curriculum. He retired at the end of spring 1999. Dr. Howerton served as a member and later as President of the Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges and has numerous published technical papers on the teaching of Software Engineering in the proceedings of the Consortium and in various other journals. Mrs. Dianne Way Howerton was a graduate of Michigan State University in Radio and Television Production. She later developed and taught the program for Introduction to Computing while at New Mexico Highlands University and later at Metropolitan State College of Denver in the Computer Science program and in the Computer Information Systems program of the Business Department. "

Criteria:
• Be meeting the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state, or institutional aid.
• Be classified as a junior or senior
• Have a minimum GPA of at least 3.0
• Be an outstanding Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Social Work, or Sociology major
• Have financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA or CASFA) and the Metropolitan State University of Denver Scholarship Center.
• Students must complete the University Scholarship application.

The committee has the flexibility to narrow the application pool by raising the GPA if needed.