Marlene's education journey, while living with lupus

Marlene was diagnosed with lupus in 1970 and died from her disease in 1977. She worked tirelessly as a keypunch operator and verifier, putting me through school, as I received my MBA in 1975. She hardly complained, doing her part. We bought our first home in early 1977. Marlene signed our papers in her hospital room. She never had a night in her first home. She fought courageously, but the kidney biopsy led to pneumonia for which she seemingly fought off in a great battle, but eventually died there, spending her last 89 days in the hospital. She valued education; she worked hard for education. She had college credits also, along her way. In her honor, in her legacy, please find your education dream.   
                                                                                                      -- Fred Stepanek

Congratulations to Destney Johnson, a junior at Grambling State University studying investment management, on being the recipient of this year's $1,000 Marlene Stepanek Lupus Legacy Scholarship.