Anne E. Price’s Generous Contribution Empowers HSSU Student Community
Anne E. Price, former assistant superintendent for elementary schools in St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), has left an enduring legacy with a historic $1 million endowment to Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU).
In addition to Price’s endowment, on the same day, HSSU received two other significant donations.
Healthy Blue Missouri contributed a $41,000 donation as part of the Healthy Blue Equity Scholar Program, marking the second of two installments given to the university.
Another $60,000 endowment was received through the Chief Preston L. Bouie and Stella M. Bouie Endowed Scholarship Fund. These scholarships will support HSSU students, and with HSSU matching endowments dollar for dollar, the impact of these gifts will be even greater.
Price’s donation, the largest ever received from an alumna of the university, was established in accordance with her final wishes and will provide scholarships for HSSU students, ensuring that her lifelong commitment to educational equity will continue to impact future generations.
A 1946 graduate of Harris Teachers College, Price began her career in the segregated St. Louis Public Schools in the late 1940s, serving as a teacher at Banneker Elementary. She quickly distinguished herself as a leader in reading education, establishing a reading clinic for Black children—an initiative that would lay the foundation for a career dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of St. Louis’ most vulnerable students.
Price held numerous leadership roles throughout her tenure, including principal, director of curriculum services, and, eventually, assistant superintendent for elementary schools. She earned her doctorate in education from St. Louis University, specializing in urban curriculum supervision.
Her niece, Lynette Price-McKinney, emphasized the deep connection her aunt felt toward HSSU and the broader St. Louis community.
“She always spoke highly of Harris-Stowe,” McKinney said. “She was a 1946 graduate herself, and she never forgot her roots. It’s no surprise that she left such a generous donation.”
Price-McKinney shared that the endowment reflects Price’s lifelong dedication to education and her strong desire to uplift underserved students.
“She was always a huge supporter of the underdog,” McKinney said. “Her love for education was deeply personal. She wanted to help students from the city, particularly African-American males pursuing elementary education. She believed in their potential and wanted to remove the financial barriers that so many of them face.”
Price was widely recognized for her contributions to both education and community service. She was the visionary behind Project FORE, a motivational program that rewarded elementary students for excellence in achievement.
Her work as the reading, writing, and spelling instructor on KMOV-TV’s “PS 4” program also touched the lives of countless individuals across the St. Louis region.
“One woman wrote to tell me how grateful she was because her mother learned to write by watching ‘PS 4,'” Price once recalled. “It brought tears to my eyes—that was an unexpected reward.”
Reflecting on her aunt’s legacy, McKinney said, “She was always focused on bettering others. Even at 96, she would ask caregivers about their plans for continuing their education. That’s just who she was, always looking forward and always encouraging others to do the same.”
Price’s dedication to education extended far beyond the classroom. She was honored with numerous awards, including the YWCA Leadership Award in Education, and held life memberships in organizations such as Phi Delta Kappa, the Urban League, and the NAACP.
Even in her retirement, she remained committed to her mission, conducting reading workshops and mentoring young educators well into her later years.
The $1 million endowment is a testament to Price’s unwavering commitment to education. It will provide ongoing scholarships, focusing on students from St. Louis who are pursuing degrees in elementary education.
“I think she would be glad to know that she could give back to so many,” McKinney said. “Her legacy is about more than just her career, it’s about the countless lives she touched through her passion for education.”
Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, President of HSSU, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Dr. Price’s generous donation will not only honor her legacy but will also empower future generations to pursue their educational dreams. Her commitment to equity in education resonates deeply with our mission at HSSU.”
Jeff Shaw, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, added, “What makes this gift so special is that this was a planned gift. Anne Price loved her alma mater so much, she planned more than 30 years ago to leave Harris-Stowe a portion of her estate. These types of legacy gifts help to strengthen the University’s sustainability.”
Price’s gift will have a transformative effect on HSSU, ensuring that students from underserved communities have the opportunity to pursue higher education without the financial burden.
“She always believed in the power of education to change lives,” McKinney said. “And with this endowment, her belief in that power will continue for many years to come.”
Anne Price, Healthy Blue Missouri and the Chief Preston L. Bouie and Stella M. Bouie Endowed Scholarship Fund will help future generations of students, continuing HSSU’s mission of promoting in education. opportunity.
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