The Rachel A. Zehr American Sign Language Scholarship Fund

Rachel Ann Zehr graduated from Goshen College in 1960 with a degree in elementary education.  After 2 years of teaching in the public school system, Rachel served a term of Voluntary Service in the Philadelphia, PA area.  This term of service was very pivotal in her life because she was given an assignment working with young hearing impaired students.  It was through this assignment that she developed a passion for what was to become her life’s work.

Upon completion of the V.S. assignment, she enrolled at Washington University, St. Louis, MO. and earned a master’s degree with emphasis on hearing impaired education.  Her initial employment after completing this degree was with Illinois State University’s hearing impaired program.  For most of Rachel’s professional life she was employed by the state of Illinois where she served as an educational consultant for classroom teachers working with hearing impaired students.

Rachel was born in central Illinois into a family of 8 children where education and service were highly encouraged.  Goshen College and Mennonite education were family priorities and 7 of the 8 Zehr children attended Goshen College.  Many of Rachel’s nieces and nephews as well as grand-nieces and grandnephews have also attended Goshen.  Rachel always valued education and was an encourager to those attending or considering attending church colleges.  Through the years she gave generously to her local church’s scholarship fund which assisted students going to Mennonite Colleges.  She also gave generously to Goshen College and other Mennonite institutions throughout her life and through her estate.