In honor of the late Carolyn M. Schmies, Laredo College commemorated her legacy and impact on Laredo College students, staff and faculty with a memorial bench and tree dedication ceremony. The bench is placed alongside the bench of her beloved daughter Cesha Monique Brown, where both will continue to watch over new generations of students.
In keeping with her unwavering dedication to education, Kenneth R. Schmies, her husband and a member of the Laredo College Education Foundation, announced a $500 annual scholarship to support a student with special needs in pursuing their academic goals.
“Carolyn was a dear friend and a cherished member of the Palomino family,” Laredo College President Dr. Minita Ramírez said. “She was a source of light, love and encouragement to everyone around her with a remarkable gift for making people feel valued and supported. This bench is a tribute not only to her years of service at Laredo College, but to the kindness and compassion she shared so freely with others. May it serve as a lasting reminder of a life dedicated to lifting people up and making our community a better place. Carolyn will always hold a special place in the heart of Laredo College.”
Alongside the bench, a magnolia tree will grow and provide shade for those in the area. Its growth will reflect Schmies’ own personal and career trajectory as a visionary and leader throughout her life. It also represents her unwavering devotion to caring for others, which was made clear during the event. The tree was donated by Leadership Women, an organization dedicated to cultivating capable women leaders, and where women like Schmies further strengthened their amazing leadership abilities.
Leadership Women Chief Operating Officer Heidi K. Murray said that Schmies was involved in the state, national and international efforts to promote the organization. Her cherished memory, the people she inspired and her unforgettable smile will live on through this memorial tree.
“Lifelong learning was certainly something that Carolyn was known for. She was an educator at heart,” Murray said. “We miss you. We hope this provides shade for you, and we will continue to do your work of helping women around the state learn more, lead well and leave a legacy such as yours.”
Schmies held a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and Sociology from Anderson University and a Master of Arts in Communication from Ball State University. From early on in her career, she was passionate about being in the classroom and helping students succeed.
She started as an Indianapolis 6th grade teacher before moving on and working at General Motors. Despite her young age, and due to her impeccable work ethic and undeniable leadership skills, Schmies became the first female and African-American supervisor at General Motors and was later promoted to become the first female buyer in the company. Over her years, she was an accomplished leader at GM/Delphi throughout the U.S. and Mexico before finding herself at LC.
She began her career at the South Campus as an adjunct speech instructor before being offered a full-time position only a few months later. Within a year, she was promoted to chair of the Reading and Communication Department. In 2019, she was appointed Interim South Campus Dean and shortly after, she was officially named Dean of the South Campus.
After 12 years of dedicated service to Laredo College, she retired in 2021. Even in retirement, she remained committed to serving others, continuing to make a positive impact through her charitable work.
With decades of leadership experience, she never lost her sense of humanity or her genuine love and compassion, instead always advocating for the needs of others. She has served in different leadership positions in numerous non-profit and civic organizations, including being president for United Way of Laredo, president of Literacy Volunteers of Laredo, vice president of the Optimist Club, Leadership Women regional ambassador for Laredo, board member for the Holding Institute and Chair of the Laredo College United Way Committee.
Carolyn Schmies will always be remembered as a transformational leader, mentor and educator.