Paying it Forward
Laurie Peckham ’85 on Making a Difference in the Lives of Future Avila Eagles
As a first-generation college student and the only member of
class format, it’s easy to get behind if a professor has to deal with
her immediate family to graduate college, Avila Heritage Society
many questions. At Avila, the professors could better ensure the
member Laurie Peckham ’85 deeply appreciates the impact
success of every student—that was a huge difference for me.”
student scholarships at Avila played in her life.
administration and oversight for many companies—from Fortune
“Having a college degree made a huge difference in my
That difference paid off. Peckham has provided financial
confidence facing issues that I might encounter in the world,”
500 firms to small companies— in her three-decade career. She
Peckham said. “Because of the benevolence of someone that I
now consults on financial reporting for telecommunication firms
don’t even know, I was able to earn my degree. Now I’m able to
in Indiana, where she has lived with her husband, Greg, since
do the same thing and if I can make that kind of difference in
2003. She also co-owns a boring company which provides drilling
someone else’s life, then I think I’ve fulfilled what Avila put me
services throughout the state.
on the path to fulfill.”
insurance bequest to the University, Peckham said she was struck
A Kansas City, Missouri native, Peckham originally attended
Named a member of the Heritage Society in 2017 for a life
Central Missouri State University but realized she wanted a
at the simplicity of the institutional bequest process.
smaller school environment pretty quickly. She began researching
Avila on the advice of her best friend from high school and found
able to go online and update my designated beneficiary within my
what she was looking for.
estate plan on their website, which is the case with most estate
plans. I learned that if you name a beneficiary on your insurance
“The key thing for Avila and why I was able to be successful
“The whole process was not difficult at all,” she said. “I was
there was due to the class size and the professor knowledge pool,”
policy, that beneficiary—with a few exceptions—will be the
she said. “For instance, I knew that when I got to higher-level
recipient of those funds from your insurance policy regardless of
accounting classes, there might be six people in my class. When
what you say about it in an estate plan.”
you’re dealing with those sorts of in-depth concepts in a large
While she no longer lives in Kansas City, she returns to the
area frequently and makes a point to return to campus as frequently as possible.
“The last time I visited Avila during the summer, I had a
great experience during my tour even though classes weren’t in session,” she said. “When I was in school, I had friends in productions at the Goppert Theatre and attended many shows there, so I hope to see a show at the new performing arts center. But even with the changes, it’s wonderful to see that in many ways, it hasn’t changed and is still the same campus I love.”
We invite you to join the hundreds of alumni and friends, like Laurie, who have already planned their legacy at Avila. Making a planned gift to Avila can be done in several simple and savvy ways without reducing your income or diminishing your savings. Call us today to learn more and to make a lasting impact. Contact Maggie Mohrfeld, interim vice president of advancement, at 816.501.2430 or Maggie.Mohrfeld@avila.edu.
Avila.edu
SUMMER 2020 | Accent 21
