The Mozo-Stewart/Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart Alumni Scholarship
Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart was born on February 24, 1926. She was the oldest of four children born to Albert Ray and Ethel Parker Mozo. A precocious child and an "only" for nearly four years, she entered kindergarten at 5 years of age. She graduated from South Broward High School in Dania, Florida. She completed college in three years, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville (as her mother had done) in June 1946.
She was married to Royce Stephens Stewart, a native of Greensboro, Georgia, in May, 1947. She worked for the Department of Public Health at Milledgeville State Hospital (now CSH). During this time she also served as the volunteer music director at the Boys Training School (now the Bill E. Ireland Youth Development Center), lead a Cub Scout pack, and parented two rambunctious children, a daughter, Robin Rae and a son, Stephen Mozo Stewart. She also developed her hobbies of china painting, various collections and genealogy.
In 1965 Mrs. Stewart received her Masters Degree in Library Science and became a full-time librarian at Northside Elementary School in Milledgeville. She earned her Specialist Degree in Administration from the University of Georgia and became principal of Northside in August, 1971. She remained there until 1986, when major health concerns forced her to assume a less stressful role. She became the media specialist at Sallie Davis Elementary School and remained until her retirement in 1989. She died in March, 1993.
Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart was a member of the Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Milledgeville Music Club; she was past Worthy Matron of the Milledgeville Order of the Eastern Star, a Life Member of the National PTA and a tireless worker for the Milledgeville Community Concert Association. She was a soloist and member of the First Baptist Church in Milledgeville, Georgia. She enjoyed gardening, bridge, aquasize and swimming (which her father taught her as a toddler).
Mrs. Stewart established the Mozo-Stewart Scholarship at Georgia College (now GCSU) in honor of the seven members of her family who were graduates of the school. Since her death many friends and family members have continued to add to the initial gift. As witnessed by her example, education served a major role in her life. She encouraged many young people throughout the community to continue learning even after their formal "schooling" had ended. The scholarship is currently awarded annually to a deserving student majoring in the field of education.
As indicated earlier, she was an active community volunteer throughout her life. In order to honor her passion for volunteerism, her family established The Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart Community Service Award in 1996. This award is presented annually by the Georgia College & State University Alumni Association to an alumnus who has exhibited exemplary acts of volunteerism within their own community.
List of Former Mozo-Stewart Scholarship Recipients
