Charles and Amy Mahin Scholarship

Amy Mahin once said, ‘I guess it’s just in our nature to be teachers always and no statement could be more truthful. Charles and Amy Mahin began their educational careers in Cheney, Kansas, where she taught English at the high school and he was appointed superintendent of schools in 1908. Later moving to Wichita, Mrs. Mahin was an assistant professor of English and education at Wichita University until 1933, while Mr. Mahin served as principal of Lowell School until his retirement in 1945. Mrs. Mahin also served on the teaching staff of the Family Life Education Program organizing clubs for mothers of preschoolers, Alpha and Beta fraternity mothers’ clubs and the first Wichita Grandmothers’ Club. She also assisted in the educational needs of immigrant Mexican families in Wichita.

After Charles retired, he remodeled their home, building an additional 21 rooms to rent to college students. Often called the ‘International House a student remarked, ‘It’s a college education just to live in the Mahin home.’ While Mr. Mahin took care of the daily maintenance, Mrs. Mahin continued to organize clubs for children with special needs, participate in the YWCA program and serve as Sunday school teacher. In 1954, Mrs. Mahin was awarded Kansas Mother of the Year.

Charles Mahin passed away in 1967. Because they devoted their lives helping others from all backgrounds, the members of the Alpha and Beta Mothers’ Clubs established a scholarship in their name. The Charles and Amy Mahin Scholarship was created in hopes of perpetuating the Mahin way of teaching. Mrs. Mahin passed away in 1973.