Did you get one of these Betty Crocker Scholarship pins or charms from your high school? Do you still have it? Do you cherish it? Is it a laughable reminder of how you were good at test-taking, but knew nothing about home economics? Keep your Betty Crocker Scholarship stories coming!
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While looking through a drawer of family artifacts, I found the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow pin - wheat plus heart design - which I received in 1958. Similar to several posts on Facebook, the award was a source of amusement and embarrassment. Me? A future homemaker! The test has been given in a class and I had no idea it was connected with a scholarship. And for the very shy person I was then having my picture and an article in the local paper was mortifying. I've just checked my memorabilia files and the article and announcement letter are no longer there. I must have decided this was one bit of my past that didn't need to be known in the future. Mary Anne - Portland Maine
Thanks for the memories. I received my Betty Crocker Future Homemaker of Tomorrow charm, accompanied by a lovely bracelet and certificate, in 1972. It was a big surprise because, as a high school athlete and activist, I barely remembered taking the test, and there were other young ladies who really wanted the award.
We laughed about it at a reunion a few years ago.
And, thanks to my Grandma, and later Mom, who kept everything, I still have the charm and bracelet.
And evidently, the people at Betty Crocker were right, because, although I worked outside my home while raising my four sons, I cooked, baked, sewed and kept gardens, and still do.
Who knew?
I don't remember the pin but I do remember being the winner in 1955 for Pennsylvanis. I still recall our visit to Washington DC and Williamsburg and the costumes we were provided with. I was more than pleased with the 2nd place prize of a $1500.00 dollar schlorship which paid exactly 1/2 my tuition at Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and that in addition to my husband's earnings have paid for a very comfortable early retirement and lots of travel opportunities. I thank Betty Crocker every day for providing me with a very comfortable satisfying life.
Congratulations to all of us winners!.I love the "sweet spot" of fond memories invoked by reading these posts. In my "young adult" years, I might not have felt the same, had I even thought about the award. It came up once, maybe in my late 30's/early 40's, in a "something about me no one knows" exercise, which I won because that was the fact that no one came close to guessing. Too funny. So thank you, again, Betty Crocker!
Great stories! Jodydem, I think you are the first state winner I've ever heard from. Wow! All of you, your stories are wonderful. Thank you for sharing them here.
I received my little pin in 1964, and today it holds a special place in a shadow box in my home. Great memories!
I received my charm in 1970. I was a junior graduating a year early and it was a big surprise. It validated that I was doing what I loved. I still have the charm and the test I took. I still invent things in the kitchen and love to sew. I would love to meet others who won at their schools! falconorganic at gmail dot com
Falconorganic: Check out another post and you will comments from many other BC Scholarship winner and hopefully you can connect with some of them.
http://findingbettycrocker.blogspot.com/2008/10/betty-crocker-search-for-american.html
I was Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow in 1958 at Leander High School in Leander, Texas. I loved to sew and cook. My Parents, Mr. and Mrs. beard, owned a cafe so I was exposed to much cooking. My Mom taught me to sew when I was six years old on my Grandmothers old Singer treadle sewing machine. I made all my clothes when I was in the sixth grade. I made a dress for F.H.A. when in the sixth grade at Eanes School in Westlake, Texas and wore it to my Grandfathers funeral in New Mexico. My husband of almost 59 years would take me home from high school and I would have a new dress made for my date that same night. He still loves to tell that story. Wish I had known that I might could have won a $5000 Scholarship, but then, God is Good as I may not have married my childhood Sweetheart. I have a most wonderful family. Thanks for the opportunity to share this special story. I still have my beautiful 1958 pin! Blessings, Binnie Ruth Seymour
Binnie - what a great story! Thanks for sharing and I bet a lot of people are enjoying your story.
Keep those Betty Crocker stories coming!!!
I won for my high school in 1968, Exeter High School, Reiffton, PA. I loved to sew and cook, still do, and I really liked math and science, so the test was a breeze. I found out I'd won when my US Rep. sent me a letter of congratulations. I was such a challenging kid in high school that my school hadn't told me, because they were considering not giving to me. Our Rep. was a family friend, so I got my award - hahaha! I went on to college, became an RN, married, have four great, now-grown kids, and I still cook and sew, and I can figure how much paint to buy to paint a room. Sadly, my charm was stolen, along with my jewelry box, when our home was burglarized some years ago.
Knitbunnie - thanks for sharing your story. Glad your family knew the Rep! Consider searching eBay and etsy to see if you can find a replacement charm. It would be lovely if you were to have one again.
I won the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award for my high school in 1971. I remember taking the test and when I found out I won, I laughed out loud! Non of the Home Economics students would talk to me, since I won and they didn't. I guess I made a little too much fun of the honor, because the Home Ec teacher gave me the award after school one day, rather than at the end of year assembly. I know there was an article in the Local North Arlington, NJ newspaper announcing the winners at both North Arlington, NJ high school and the Catholic High School, Queen of Peace.
I'm not sure I still have the silver charm with the fireplace on it.
Congratulations, Joanne. Thank you for sharing your memory with us "Bettys!"
I won in 1072 - definitely a test taking award. Home ec teacher seriously annoyed i won as I had petitioned the school board to allow me to take woodshop (which was only open to boys) and dropped out of home ec. She was the one that made all senior girls take the test.... However in the quarter i took home ec made a tunic and was confused by the fact the front and back were not the same size so trimmed it to make them match :)
The ironic part of this is I am a now an obsessed quilter and sewed lots of clothes for my kids.
whoops - 1972
I won in at small school in North Dakota, They had a class called Bachelor Living I took it as an alternative to Shop. There were about 10 of us in it. The Home EC girls took the test also. Wasn't into wood shop so I took the class. Wonder how many males won the award at their school?
What a great alternative to shop class. Our school would never have been so progressive
I have hoped to learn about previous winners. I am excited to see this. I was the winner from Minnesota, home of .Betty Crocker in the first competition, 1955. I have just authored a memoir of 60 years as a homemaker- titled 9 Kids 23 Cars- that begins with "Future found in a wastebasket." This story is the result of my award and recognition in the "American Search for the Homemaker of Tomorrow." It has been a wonderful journey. Yes I have the first Trifari Pin and a huge scrapbook of the trip East.
Rose Trochlil. Winchester Virginia
Thank you, everyone for sharing your stories. I will be collecting more and more and publishing them here. Please keep sending your memories and photos. Once upon a time, a gentleman sent me his photos for winning the scholarship and I accidentally deleted them when I was trying to reply. Ugh. I tried a few times to get ahold of him but never heard back. Still holding out hope!
Can't wait to hear more about "Future found in a wastebasket."
My book, a memoir, 9Kids 23 Cars, tells about my sixty years as a homemaker. It can be purchased directly at rosetrochlil.com
I am so proud to have been a Betty C rocker Homemaker of Tomorrow. Yes my future was found in a wastebasket by a home etc teacher who retrieved it from the principal,s basket and asked me to take the test. I would like to correspond with state winners of 1955. We spent a week together in Williamsburg, DC and Philadelphia as guests of Betty Crocker, even televised on national tv. Rose
I was the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow for the state of Michigan in 1964. I took the test because I worked as an assistant to the seniors' counselor during my study hall and he insisted I take it instead of "running around the halls." Best 50 minutes I spent in high school! My family never traveled, so it was my first time on a plane and first trip outside of Michigan. Visiting Colonial Williamsburg, where we enjoyed a candlelight string quartet concert in the Governor's Mansion, Washington DC, where we were hosted at a Congressional Reception, and New York City, where we attended the 1964 World's Fair, were amazing adventures for me. ALL of the state winners were intelligent, interesting young women. My $1500 scholarship financed my entire freshman year at the University of Michigan, and part of the following year...a real help to my parents. Thank you, Betty Crocker, for a fantastic finish to my high school years!
Three other seniors and I took the Betty Crocker Homemaker test. However, I didn’t attend awards assembly toward end of school year as I had a job after fifth period. So I missed being called to stage or being in a news photo with others, BUT I won the award BC Pin in 1956. Our assistant principal had tried to get me to stay for assembly, but she didn’t tell me why, wanting me to be surprised. Ah well, I do still have my pretty pin. Virginia in Virginia
Your stories get to me!! So sweet and unique. I love that the Betty Crocker scholarship gave one winner from Michigan such a wonderful adventure and lifelong memories. And Virginia in Virginia, dang, I wish your assistant principal would have pushed a little bit harder for you to stay for the assembly. I really do.
I didn't receive anything at the time I won at my school level in 1976 and just happened to be talking to my husband about winning the award while we were on a camping trip a few years ago. I reached out to Betty Crocker and they were nice enough to send me my charm all these years later. Incidentally, I've been married to my college sweetheart for forty two years and have three beautiful children. I also have my Masters degree in Clinical psychology
Diana! What a wonderful story. I'm glad they sent you the charm. Your life seems pretty wonderful!
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