The Oliver Family

Dr. James B. Oliver established The Vincent R. Oliver Scholarship in December 2006 in loving memory of Vincent R. Oliver, his father. This scholarship is representative of Mr. Oliver’s own life work as an educator. It epitomizes the value he placed in the role of education and its correlation to the betterment of the individual and society as a whole. This scholarship is awarded to a first generation college student, like Mr. Oliver, who also has financial need.

Vincent R. Oliver was born April 23, 1932 in Watertown, NY. He spent his childhood there, graduating from Watertown High school in 1950. Mr. Oliver served four years in the Air Force during the Korean conflict. He served two years in Laon, France and was honorably discharged from the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant. In 1953, he married his lifelong love, Jan Branche. Mr. Oliver was a first generation college student. He attended Oswego State College and graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 1958, and also did graduate work at Syracuse and St. Lawrence Universities, and Oswego and Potsdam State Colleges.

After graduating from Oswego, he became a social studies teacher at Case Junior High School in the Watertown City School District. He became an administrator for the district, serving in many positions, among them Principal of North Junior High School and Chairman of the Committee on Special Education.

Vincent Oliver believed that hard work and education could open up a world of opportunity. He made it his life’s goal to instill these values in his students and his family. Through this scholarship, he will enable other first generation college students to reach for their dreams.

Jefferson Community College is honored to be able to continue Vincent’s legacy, and will be forever grateful to the Oliver family for establishing this scholarship in his memory.