Rachel Royston History
Rachel Royston Knutson, a leader and model for women in education, believed in providing scholarships for outstanding female educators. She graduated from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College and later earned a Master’s degree from Columbia University. Rachel began teaching in Missouri and then in Washington State. She held positions as an elementary and junior high school teacher and as a counselor at both junior and senior high school levels. In 1958, through an appointment, Rachel became a member of The Educational Policies Commission for the United States. In 1964, she was a Fulbright Exchange teacher.
Founder Dr. Annie Webb Blanton initiated Rachel as a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society on May 24, 1941. At the 1946 Alpha Sigma State Convention in Wenatchee, the State Scholarship Fund was named the Rachel Royston Scholarship Fund in her honor. The original goal set for fund was $150,000 to be raised by key Chapter members. The Rachel Royston Permanent Scholarship was incorporated as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization in 1965.
Rachel concluded her outstanding educational career retiring from Seattle Public Schools, in 1971. She passed away on March 21, 1999, at the Ida Culver House, Broadview, Seattle.
Edna Sterling History
Edna Sterling was a champion of education. She received her first college degree from the Laboratory School of Central Missouri. She received two additional degrees in literature from the University of Chicago. Later, she attended the University of Washington and did further graduate work at the University of California and Stanford University.
She taught all levels from kindergarten to college. Edna was also a consultant with many school systems in California, Colorado, Kansas Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Edna Sterling authored over 80 books in the field of English-Language Arts for grades two through twelve. Henry Holt and Company and D.C. Heath Company were her publishers.
Edna was the founder of Alpha Sigma State, Washington and co-founder of Beta Chapter and is listed in Who’s Who of American Women. She died in 1965 leaving over $250,000 to the Rachel Royston Permanent Scholarship Foundation. Her Executor Miss Helen F. Olson waived her executor fee of $8,000, adding it to the RRPSF.