SCHOLARSHIP CREATED TO HONOR EASTMANS

To honor Dr. Ken Eastman and create a legacy in his name, alumni Michael and Anne Greenwood have established the Ken and Laurie Eastman Spears School of Business Endowed Opportunity Scholarship Fund, which will award needs-based scholarships to students throughout Spears Business.

The Greenwoods will match up to $250,000 in fund donations received through July 30, which marks the end of Dean Eastman’s tenure at Oklahoma State University.

“One of the nice parts of this job is getting to know Mike and Anne personally, and I consider them both friends now,” Eastman said. “And to have friends create a scholarship for us, it stunned me. It was deeply touching, and we are very humbled by their generosity.

“As a first-gen college student, I am excited that future students with needs will have the opportunity to attend Spears Business. Working with students has been one of the most rewarding parts of being dean, and we are honored by this scholarship.”

The Greenwoods have worked with the Eastmans for many years, serving the school as donors, advisory committee members, student mentors and lecturers. They wanted to find a way to thank both of the Eastmans for their work in increasing the prominence of Spears Business during his decade as dean.

“During his tenure, Dean Ken Eastman revolutionized the Spears curriculum and programs that have now made our graduates more competitive and relevant in today’s business world,” the Greenwoods said. “With this endowed scholarship, we not only honor Ken and Laurie but enable their legacy to continue to fill the halls of the Spears School of Business forever.”

Finding ways to enhance the student experience was always a priority for Eastman. He was at the forefront of multiple changes that better prepare Spears Business students for long-term success. This includes revising undergraduate core curriculum, integrating the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management into Spears, and creating multiple centers focused on leadership and career-readiness.

His crowning achievement was the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art Business Building. The $72-million, 147,450-squarefoot facility opened in 2018, a groundbreaking milestone for Spears Business.

Donations to the Ken and Laurie Eastman Spears School of Business Endowed Opportunity Scholarship Fund can be made at OSUgiving.com/ EastmanScholarship