In January of 2017, Dr. Arnett Dennis (PWC Class of 1947), his wife, Maralee, and their family made a generous decision to establish a scholarship in memory of Dr. Dennis’ mother, Ruth Gorrill Dennis.
Ruth Gorrill was born on January 19, 1891, in a house on a part of the Northam Road that was in the school district of Birch Hill, PEI. She was the first child in a large family. She was a star pupil and one of her teachers visited the Gorrill home one evening to urge her parents to send her to college but they took no action in that regard. Ruth did take music lessons, and became a competent organist.
Ruth married William Dennis in 1915. Together they had nine children; eight of which lived to grow up. Once her children were grown, Ruth became more active in her church as a choir member, Sunday school teacher, and long-time president of a group called the Women’s Auxiliary.
Ruth’s son Arnett was born in Arlington in 1927. He recalled his mother first telling him about scholarships. Arnett worked his way through college, but scholarships were a big help. He attended Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, PEI and the University of Prince Edward Island is honoured to include him in its alumni family. In honour of his mother, Dr. Dennis and his family established the Ruth Gorrill Dennis Memorial Scholarship Endowment.