At first glance, it might look like a modest meeting in a small-town boardroom—a few alumni, a handful of financial statements, a calendar marked for a chicken dinner fundraiser in August. But listen in for a few minutes, and you’ll quickly realize: the Salem Community High School Academic Foundation is no ordinary committee.

It’s a living testament to gratitude, a group of alumni-turned-advocates who’ve stayed anchored to the place that shaped them—and who now shape it in return.

“We’re all here because this school gave us something,” said Debby Hays, a retired teacher and 1970 graduate. “It nurtured us. It made us who we are. And now we get to pay that forward.”

Every year, the Foundation distributes 14 scholarships to Salem Community High School seniors—each with its own personality, purpose, and backstory. Some are for future nurses. Some for teachers. Some for agriculture, science, engineering, or the trades. Others are deeply personal—memorials created by family members, former educators, or grateful graduates who wanted to keep a loved one’s name stitched into the next generation’s future.

“Not all of them are big-dollar awards,” said John Gaston, the Foundation’s treasurer. “But they’re all meaningful. For some families, it’s the difference between starting or not. And for some students, it’s the vote of confidence they didn’t know they needed.”

With over $365,000 currently held in the Foundation’s fund, and more donors joining every year, the group’s impact continues to grow. What makes it special isn’t just the money—it’s the people behind it.

Deborah Woodruff, now an attorney and former student of Salem schools, returned after 30 years to the town that raised her. Today, she works with children in the legal system, serves on the Foundation board, and sponsors a scholarship named for her 102-year-old mother, Helen Woodruff, a beloved junior high teacher. “This work connects everything I care about,” she said. “Education. Kids. Legacy. It’s all here.”

Jeannie Malone came to the board after losing her husband, also an educator. “We both believed deeply in helping kids get an education,” she said. “Creating a scholarship in his name was one way to keep that belief alive.”

There’s Dena Haflin, a veterinarian who started a scholarship for her late father. Don Decker, a quiet pillar who’s been serving for decades. Lynette Dye, a longtime teacher who found her way to Salem as a junior and never left. “I thought I’d move away,” she laughed. “But I met a local boy and stayed.”

And then there’s James Toth, a network specialist who got his start in construction before finding his way into tech. He competed nationally in networking and returned to Salem to give back. “It just feels right to be helping where I came from,” he said.

Together, these individuals form a kind of institutional memory—each with a personal story, each with a reason to stay involved. They’re not just awarding scholarships. They’re sending a message to students: We believe in you because someone once believed in us.

They also fund mini-grants for teachers, offer a Teacher of the Year award, and host community events to build awareness and raise funds. And when students line up on awards night to receive their scholarships—some hugging their parents, others blinking back tears—it all comes full circle.

As Debby put it, “We may not be able to fund a full ride, but we can fund a launch. And that’s a powerful thing.”

The Salem Community High School Academic Foundation isn’t flashy. It doesn’t chase headlines. But in a town where roots matter and futures are built one gesture at a time, it’s become something extraordinary: a circle of care, quietly ensuring that every step forward begins with a hand held out behind you.