CTC Foundation establishes Lombardi endowment scholarship

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

The legacy of the late Joe Lombardi continues with the recent announcement of the Central Texas College Foundation that it has created and established the “Big” Joe Lombardi Endowment scholarship. 
The scholarship will go toward students who are pursuing a career in media, whether radio or television broadcasting. 
Sherry Hoffpauir was married to Lombardi for three decades, and said the initial goal for raising scholarship funds is $5,000. 
“Your legacy is the lives you touch, and Joe touched countless students’ lives,” Hoffpauir said. “We’re grateful to the community for their support and for continuing to carry on Joe’s memory. “ 
Hoffpauir said there are some fundraisers planned, such as a night in Joe’s name at Bush’s Chicken with a portion of proceeds going to the scholarship.  
There are also plans to auction off one of Lombardi’s letterman jackets, headphones, and a reporter’s notebook filled with his broadcast notes.  
Likewise, Hoffpauir said there will be a “Big Joe” Burger Night at a Iocal restaurant with more details on that to come soon.
“The creation of the ‘Big’ Joe Lombardi Scholarship began when the CTC Foundation office received a citizen donation of $250 in honor of Mr. Joe Lombardi upon his passing in March 2023,” said Valerie Payson, CTC Foundation Director. “Sherry Hoffpauir recently contacted the Foundation to see what it would take to get things going on the setup and completion of the Foundation Scholarship.” 
The foundation is now accepting contributions at Central Texas College Foundation, Attention: Foundation Director, P.O. Box 1800, Killeen, TX 76540.
Payson said that the Central Texas College Foundation has a minimum endowment amount of $5,000, and once this has been established, the foundation will begin the process of adding it to the scholarships eligible to be awarded for that academic year.  On average, she said the foundation can start awarding the scholarship to a CTC student within two years of the establishment. 
Lombardi passed away on March 9, 2023, after a long battle with pneumonia. He announced thousands of Copperas Cove athletics events, to include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball for 45 years.