Blinn College alumnus gifts $15,000 for endowed scholarship
Charles Thielemann establishes scholarship in honor of his wife, former Blinn cheerleader and Class of ‘54 Margaret McAlpine Thielemann
November 21, 2017
A proud 1954 graduate of Blinn College, Charles Thielemann and family have gifted $15,000 to the Blinn College Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship in honor of Thielemann’s wife, former Blinn cheerleader Margaret McAlpine Thielemann.
The scholarship will be available to members of the Blinn College cheerleading team.
“The Blinn College Foundation is thrilled to establish its first cheerleading scholarship with the support of longtime friend and alumnus Charles Thielemann,” said Sam Sommer, Blinn Foundation Chair. “Thanks to Mr. Thielemann’s generosity, the Foundation continues to further its mission by enhancing the lives of our students with scholarship opportunities.”
Charles Thielemann was a member of the Blinn basketball team and Margaret Thielemann was a Blinn cheerleader in 1953-1954.
“This was all my husband’s idea, but I hope it will make it possible for a cheerleader to stay in school without having to worry about finances,” Margaret Thielemann said.
Four of the couple’s five children – Jeannie Cooper, Sally Piper, Nancy Bagley, and Matt Thielemann – and one grandchild, Margaret Kathrine Cooper, attended Blinn.
“We have a great relationship with our alumni, so to see a cheerleading alumna give back to the program and to the community is huge,” said Michael Brewster, Blinn cheer coach.
Blinn’s cheerleading team has won National Cheerleaders Association national championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The Blinn Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization designed to provide financial support for programs and activities that enhance the quality of education for Blinn College students and expand educational opportunities for the entire community. The Foundation supports the College by generating private and corporate gifts for scholarships, academic programs, student activities, campus buildings, and special events.
While raising funds is an important function, the Blinn Foundation also seeks to heighten community awareness of the mission and accomplishments of the College and to promote excellence in education. For more information, visit https://foundation.blinn.edu.
