Butler Student Wins National Scholarship

This fall, Vanessa McCauley, 58, received the Doris Buffet “Women’s Independence Scholarship,” a scholarship that helps women who have survived domestic abuse and are working to better themselves through education.  When McCauley was attending high school in Texas, she was making plans to go to college. But after graduating high school and completing a few semesters of college, she had a child and put her dreams aside. Eventually, McCauley became a flight attendant and for more than three decades put her college dreams on hold

Last year, McCauley decided to enroll at Butler Community College of Kansas’ hospitality management program. She had left an abusive relationship and realized she needed to create a new life for herself.  Since she began at Butler, McCauley has received straight A’s – that’s why she was encouraged by one of her professors, Tiffani Price, to apply for several scholarships.  McCauley was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, a two-year college honor society.

Until she received this scholarship, McCauley went to school and worked hard to support herself. Now, thanks to Doris Buffet, school is top priority for McCauley. This highly competitive national scholarship pays for McCauley’s personal expenses – electricity, gas, and medical – plus school expenses, while she is in school. McCauley said Buffet wants her to not have to worry about working and concentrate on her classes. Doris Buffet, the sister of Warren Buffet, has given away more than $1 million in both educational and individual scholarships.

 “I’m just thrilled that I was chosen for this,” McCauley said. “Mrs. Buffet said ‘I want a good return.’ I will give her one!”

After graduating from Butler, McCauley will attend Kansas State University’s hospitality program – where she was accepted. The scholarship will follow her.

McCauley also received the Academic Achievement Scholarship from Kansas State University and the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor’s Society Scholarship from Kansas State University Foundation.

“It’s never too late to go back to school,” McCauley said. “People say to me, you have shown me that age has no boundaries.”