Honoring a Trailblazer: The Dr. Elizabeth C. Crosby Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Community Foundation of Monroe County (CFMC) is honored to announce the establishment of the Dr. Elizabeth C. Crosby Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, created by Dr. Scott M. Burns in tribute to his mentor, the renowned neuroanatomist Dr. Elizabeth C. Crosby.
This endowed scholarship will provide financial support to Monroe County residents graduating from Summerfield High School who wish to pursue post-secondary education. The fund is designed to be inclusive, offering opportunities not only to traditional college-bound students but also to part-time students and adult learners returning to the classroom.
A Hometown Legacy
Dr. Crosby, a native of Petersburg, stands among the most influential comparative neuroanatomists of the twentieth century. Her groundbreaking dissertation on the forebrain of the alligator provided direct evidence supporting Darwin’s theory of evolution, forever changing the field of neuroanatomy.
Though she became recognized worldwide as an authority on the central nervous system, Dr. Crosby remained deeply grateful to her hometown and her early years at Summerfield. When honored at her alma mater, she reflected:
“No recognition is ever more highly valued than that from your own home town. Some of the happiest and most worthwhile days of my life were spent in Petersburg. The training I received in its school and the experience I acquired in teaching there have been valuable assets all of my professional life. I owe much to Petersburg.”
A Mentor’s Tribute
For Dr. Burns, who studied under Crosby and is writing her biography, this scholarship is both personal and enduring.
“She was my mentor,” Dr. Burns shared. “She did what she was told was impossible, and she did it with distinction. This fund ensures that her legacy will inspire future generations from her hometown to pursue their own paths of learning and discovery.”
Inspiring Future Generations
Through this scholarship, Dr. Crosby’s pioneering work and devotion to her hometown will live on, empowering students to chase their educational dreams for generations to come.
To learn more about this and other CFMC scholarships, visit cfmonroe.org/students.