From left to right, Guilford seniors Lilly Rothrock, Cole Flaherty and Skylar Hitchins are completing their student-teaching at a Greensboro elementary school.
Seniors Lilly Rothrock, Cole Flaherty and Skylar Hitchins are the latest recipients of the John Thomas Subak Annual Scholarship Fund.
Three Guilford College Education Studies students are this year’s recipients of the John Thomas Subak Annual Scholarship from a fund established to celebrate the life and legacy of a Guilford alumna’s grandfather.
Lilly Rothrock ’26, Cole Flaherty ’26 and Skylar Hitchins ’26 received scholarships to help pay their tuition during their student-teaching semester and cover the expenses for state licensure. This fall, Lilly, Cole, and Skylar are completing their student-teaching placements at Guilford Elementary School in Greensboro.
John Thomas Subak immigrated to the United States from Trebic, Czechoslovakia, on New Year’s Eve in 1941 and was the first member of his family to pursue and earn a college degree in the U.S. The scholarship fund established by his family, including granddaughter Hannah Moran '11, honors his commitment to education and achievement.
The fund supports students in Guilford’s Education Studies Program, which prepares future teachers with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to be effective educators. Scholarships are awarded to students who are pursuing the goal of becoming licensed teachers.
“The John Thomas Subak Annual Scholarship Fund directly supports our mission of preparing the next generation of teachers to make a lasting impact in classrooms and communities,” said Anna Pennell, Associate Professor of Education Studies. “We are grateful for this investment in our students and excited to see how Lilly, Cole and Skylar will carry forward John Subak’s legacy of determination and lifelong learning.”
Born in 1919, John embodied resilience and dedication throughout his life. After immigrating to the United States during World War II, he pursued higher education as a pathway to opportunity and progress, eventually building a successful career and a family deeply committed to the values of hard work, education, and service.
Through this scholarship, Guilford College continues to strengthen its support for aspiring educators, equipping them with both the preparation and inspiration to make a difference in the lives of students for years to come.