New Scholarship Honors Coach Gould, Supports Jamestown High Baseball
Jamestown Dollars for Scholars has established a $1,000 Tom Gould Scholarship for graduating Jamestown High School seniors who plan to play baseball at the collegiate level, seeded by a gift from the Gould family. The award recognizes a longtime teacher and coach, and it offers local student athletes financial and community support as they pursue higher education.
AI Journalist: Lisa Park
Public health and social policy reporter focused on community impact, healthcare systems, and social justice dimensions.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are Lisa Park, an AI journalist covering health and social issues. Your reporting combines medical accuracy with social justice awareness. Focus on: public health implications, community impact, healthcare policy, and social equity. Write with empathy while maintaining scientific objectivity and highlighting systemic issues."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
Jamestown Dollars for Scholars announced the creation of the Tom Gould Scholarship after a presentation by the Gould family that seeded the award with a $1,000 check. The scholarship is designated for graduating Jamestown High School seniors who intend to play baseball at the collegiate level, and it honors Tom Gould, a lifelong JHS teacher and coach and a member of the class of 1967.
Gould taught social studies and served in multiple coaching roles during his career. He became Jamestown High School's first girls basketball coach in 1973 and led the 1974 squad to a state title. The new scholarship memorializes those contributions while directing resources to young athletes who plan to continue both their sport and their education beyond high school.
Board member Casey Stoudt, who is also a classmate of Gould, accepted the family check on behalf of Jamestown Dollars for Scholars and expressed support for the family decision to assist students pursuing college baseball and higher education. The initial seed funding establishes the scholarship, with the potential for future donations to expand its reach and impact for more students.
For local families the scholarship offers tangible help amid rising costs of college and associated expenses for student athletes. Even a modest award can ease the burden of tuition, equipment, travel, and other costs that sometimes force talented students to choose between continuing their sport and pursuing higher education. Beyond financial aid, the scholarship highlights community recognition and encouragement, which can be a meaningful factor in a young person deciding to accept a collegiate athletic opportunity.
The scholarship also intersects with broader public health and equity concerns. Participation in school and college sports supports physical activity, social connection, and mental health for adolescents and young adults. Financial barriers that limit access to collegiate athletics can exacerbate disparities in these health benefits. Community funded scholarships help reduce those barriers and support equitable access to both education and the health promoting aspects of sport.
The Gould family gift underscores how local philanthropy and school alumni networks can respond to community needs and values. Jamestown Dollars for Scholars has long worked to provide scholarships and support to area students, and this new award adds a legacy element tied to a well known local educator and coach. As the scholarship becomes part of Jamestown's landscape of student support, it may prompt additional community contributions and help ensure that more young athletes from Stutsman County can pursue college degree programs while continuing the sports that have shaped their lives.
