Staff Reports
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STEVENSON, ALA. – On July 17, 1996, 230 people died in the devastating crash of Trans World Airlines Flight 800. The plane exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, only twelve minutes after taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport. The plane was headed to Rome with a stopover in Paris, France. On board the plane were five of Stevenson’s citizens, well-known and respected by many. Mike Scott, his wife Barbara, 13-year-old son Joe, along with his friend Tom, and his mother Brenda were among the 230 that were killed on that day.
The City of Stevenson did not forget those who perished that day, and one way they chose to honor their friends’ memories was to fulfill one of Mike Scott’s dreams for Stevenson. Mike Scott is said to have been involved in the Friends of the Library organization. Reportedly, Mike and the group had already discussed having a learning center as a part of the library for tutoring kids’ activities and enrichment programs. From that dream, the Michael Scott Learning Center became a reality almost twenty-six years ago. Volunteers started the organization in 1998.
The center hosts hundreds of children each year for classes and activities. Crystal McCrary is the only employee and has been the director for the past six years. She relies heavily on volunteers to help make the center work. The program is funded through donations, so she is busy securing funds and running the day-to-day operations.
A wide variety of learning activities are offered, including Busy Bees, Toddler Time, basic computer classes, art classes, STEAM stations, tutoring, ARC group activities, Pre-K activities, cooking classes, sewing classes, senior center events, 4H events, nursing home events, craft events, Housing Authority events, music classes, field trips, homeschool group activities, and robotics programs.
Since the Michael Scott Learning Center was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, it does not receive funding from local, state, or government agencies. Instead, it has operated through donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations.
If you would like to contribute to keeping the dream alive, you can donate by mailing your checks to Michael Scott Learning Center, 106 W. Main St., Stevenson, AL 35772. Donations can also be accepted via PayPal at [email protected].
