Published February 28, 2024
Melissa Cole, Pensacola State College Foundation
Pensacola State College proudly provides access to affordable, quality education for a variety of students from all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. There are hundreds of resources available to match individual student needs.
The Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust Scholarship, established in April 2023, is one such resource that supports Native American students with up to $1,000 per school year.
The Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust was founded in 1995 upon the death of Melba Bayers Meyer. Melba, originally known as Melba Lea Bayers, was born June 17, 1910 in Alberta Lea, Minnesota to John Arnold and Cora Bayers. She was the oldest out of six siblings and had two younger brothers, John Arnold or “Jack” and Neil, and three younger sisters, Marge, Shirley, and Betty.
Melba graduated from Billings West High School in Montana before attending the University of Minnesota and spent most of her early adulthood across the northwest and northeast United States. It was during her time in New York that she met her future husband and local Pensacola merchant, Ferdie “F.E.” Meyer in the late 1940s.
F.E. Meyer, originally from Selma, Alabama, made a home in New York City to study budding fashion trends and markets for his parents, Albert and Nettie Meyer, owners of the Meyer Shoe Company formerly on Palafox Street. F.E. would bring New York purchases back to Pensacola so the Meyer Shoe Company could offer merchandise reflective of current fashion trends at the same time that it was being offered in NYC and other new trendsetting locations. This family business was inherited by F.E. upon his father’s retirement.
F.E., who was named President of the Pensacola Retail Merchants’ Association in the early 40’s, enjoyed immersing himself in arts and culture and became involved with organizations such as the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Melba, who shared a similar love for arts and culture, modeled for the Pensacola News Journal’s women’s fashion feature and participated in fashion shows held by social clubs and committees like the Pensacola Federation of Garden Clubs. In addition to their personal passions and retail management, the couple also gave generously to local civic movements.
After F.E. Meyer passed in 1955, Melba ran the Meyer Shoe Company for a number of years. Melba continued her involvement in local fashion shows and organizations such as the Pensacola Yacht Club and the Pensacola chapter of the Zonta Club until her death in 1995.
The Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust was established to preserve Melba’s love of community and service and supports the endeavors of charitable, religious, scientific, literary, and educational organizations. It also supports the prevention of animal cruelty and the needs of children and indigent Native Americans in Pensacola, Florida, and Alabama.
Between Fall 2017 and Fall 2022, PSC served over 1,200 Native American students enrolled in a variety of programs. In the time since its establishment, the Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust Scholarship has awarded a total of $5,000 to nine Native American individuals pursuing diverse studies including psychology, theatre, dental hygiene, and photography. This scholarship was essential to ensuring educational access for all.
For more information about supporting scholarships at the Pensacola State College Foundation, please visit our website at http://foundation.pensacolastate.edu/opportunities-to-support-psc/scholarships/ or contact Director of Foundation Scholarships, Mikenzie Francis-Opperman, at (850) 484–1788 or mfrancis-opperman@pensacolastate.edu
To apply for scholarships at Pensacola State College, please visit https://financialaid.pensacolastate.edu/scholarships/. If you are a student with questions about your financial aid or the scholarship application, please join the PirateQ here https://www.pensacolastate.edu/pirateq/ to be connected with the team member best suited to assist.