Mickey Ingalls Legacy Award
Netta J. “Mickey” Ingalls was born and lived her whole life in Montgomery. When she was a senior at Sidney Lanier High School in 1939, she wanted more than anything to attend college, but her parents could not afford to send her. Always an excellent student, Mrs. Ingalls won a national Latin competition that came with a scholarship. She attended Agnes Scott College in Atlanta for two years. Unfortunately, at that point, the money ran out, and she had to return home. Some 20 years later, when her four children were older, Mrs. Ingalls enrolled in Huntington College, taking only one course at a time because of her commitment to her family. When she finally graduated in 1972, it was one of the proudest days of her life.
Mrs. Ingalls was ever mindful of her responsibilities as a citizen and devoted to supporting her twin loves, education and the arts. Grateful for the opportunity provided by her college scholarship, she was dedicated to creating opportunity for others. She was a lifelong volunteer, serving as president of Montgomery’s Civic Ballet, the Montgomery Chamber Music Organization, and the Friends of the Montgomery Library. She also served on the boards of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Carver Creative and Performing Arts Center (CCPAC), and the Arts Council of Montgomery.
Mrs. Ingalls’s extensive involvement in community organizations was matched by her intense and empathetic interest in the individuals served by those organizations. She was known for her ability to listen and learn from others and was a quiet force in helping many pursue their aspirations.
When Mrs. Ingalls died in 1996, her friends and family members endowed a scholarship in her name, the Mickey Ingalls Legacy Award, to be awarded to a deserving student at CCPAC, now Booker T. Washington Magnet High School. The award has been given every year since then. On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Mrs. Ingalls and the 25th anniversary of the scholarship, her family has offered additional support for the award, making it possible to increase the amount and number of awards granted. Under the stewardship of FAME and the Central Alabama Community Foundation, the Mickey Ingalls Legacy Award will continue to help support and honor BTW students and fund enrichment activities in the arts for many future generations.