Ozella Jones had a love for children and a love for education. Her goal was to give each child she taught the drive to learn more during her 25 years in education at the New Boston Independent School District in New Boston, Texas. She pushed each student to take that extra step to learn more and then to learn even more. Ozella was deeply committed to higher education and to seeing every student reach his or her potential.

Her love of her students and her desire for the highest level of education has continued with the CAS Scholarship Program. CAS was formed in 1990 to provide workers’ compensation programs to Texas Schools and Colleges. CAS’ key goal was to provide a safer work environment while reducing the cost of insurance. CAS’ programs have generated over $154,087,234 in savings for Texas schools since 1991. These savings have allowed Texas schools to spend these extra funds student education.

CAS, like Ozella, has a deep committment to continuing education and has established a scholarship fund in her name for member school districts that excel in reducing employee injuries. Three annual scholarships of $1,000 each were established in 2000 and have been awarded to member school districts each year since 2001. The selected districts are announced each year at CAS’ annual member appreciation luncheon. The recipients of the scholarship are encouraged to take that extra step to learn more and then as Ozella would say, “Learn even more.”

The criteria used to determine recipient districts are zero claims and most improved claims for the most recent policy year, and the best three year average. The selected districts may award the scholarship to the student of their choice. The student must use the award towards higher education or technical school.

Past recipients are:

1999/2000 Policy Year
Malone ISD - Zero Claims
Grady ISD - Most Improved
Walnut Springs ISD - Best 3-Year Average

2000/2001 Policy Year
Dawson ISD (Navarro Cty) - Zero Claims
Alvord ISD - Most Improved
Three Way ISD (Bailey Cty) - Best 3-Year Average

2001/2002 Policy Year
Bells ISD - Zero Claims
Garrison ISD - Most Improved
Patton Springs - Best 3-Year Average

2002/2003 Policy Year
Groveton ISD - Most Improved
Hico ISD - Zero Claims Over a 3-Year Period
Hedley ISD - Zero Claims
Haskell ISD - Best 3-Year Average