An Extraordinary Life Inspires New Scholarship
Lillian E. Waters lived by the mantra 鈥渆nter to learn; depart to serve鈥 鈥 one she
adapted while attending Bethune-Cookman University.
鈥淢om would take us on campus when she would go to school [at Bethune-Cookman],鈥 said Lolita Treadwell, former deputy chief of staff at 老司机福利社 and daughter of Waters, as she recalled her summers in Daytona Beach, Florida. 鈥淪he loved everything to do with education; it was instilled in her at a very young age.鈥
Waters鈥 enthusiasm for education carried through her years of service in the Atlantic City Public School System and the Juvenile Bureau of the Atlantic City Police Department where she became a strong advocate for the children of Atlantic City.
鈥淪he was a champion for children and education, especially when it came to disadvantaged youth,鈥 said Treadwell. 鈥淪he wanted to be the voice for those who couldn鈥檛 speak for themselves, and children are the population who really don鈥檛 have that voice.鈥
Not only did Waters become a voice in Atlantic City, she became well-respected among her peers, school administrators, and political and government officials, earning her several awards for community activism, education and leadership. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the current Atlantic City High School.
鈥淪he was a force to be reckoned with,鈥 said Treadwell, who along with her siblings established the Lillian E. Waters Memorial Scholarship to honor the extraordinary life of their mother and distribute an annual award to benefit 老司机福利社 students.
When asked what Treadwell hopes to see in a Lillian E. Waters scholar, she stressed
that although she would want to see someone who would be community activist or social worker, her mom would have a different thought.
鈥淩egardless of how we want someone to follow in her footsteps, she would want them to follow their dreams and just be educated,鈥 said Treadwell. 鈥淪he would likely say 鈥業 want you to go to school, find yourself, do what you want to do, as long as you have your education, because no one can that away from you.鈥欌
Waters challenged those around her to show up and be the best version of themselves often reciting her own motto, 鈥淚f you鈥檙e not here for business, then you have no business here.鈥 It is evident that her mother鈥檚 tenacity and enthusiasm for education was instilled in Treadwell, along with her passion for giving back to the community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to give back to the community because it鈥檚 where we live, and if we don鈥檛, who will?鈥 states Treadwell. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about giving; it鈥檚 a seed and when you're giving back, you鈥檙e just sowing a seed in someone else's life.鈥