CELEBRATING PHILANTHROPY EK U FOUNDAT ION R EPORT 2021
The President’s Circle celebrates those dedicated alumni and friends who demonstrate their support of EKU’s mission and vision through leadership-level annual gifts of $1,000 or more.
449 DONORS ————————————
$5,371,909 RAISED
Dear Friends, no dream is too big. Because our giving makes such a profound difference in the lives of students, we must continue to invest in EKU. My wife, Melissa, and I are grateful for the generosity shown to us while we worked our way through college, and scholarships played a critical role. To help provide the same opportunities to current and future students, we recently launched the Pay It Back to Pay It Forward Campaign. Over the next several years, Melissa and I will make gifts totaling the amount of the scholarships we received while we were students at Eastern. Our goal is to further increase the amount of scholarship money available to those who need it, ensuring a life-changing educational experience for even more students. Already, several others have also committed to Pay It Back to Pay It Forward, and we invite you to join us. As you browse through this Foundation Report, you’ll get to know just a few of the thousands of students who benefit, learn, and grow with the assistance of donor support. You’ll also hear exceptional stories about some of our donors — like Karen Ann Hawkins who bequeathed the largest gift in EKU’s history. Our donors and students deeply inspire me and make me immensely proud to be an EKU Colonel. I hope you, too, feel proud of what we’re accomplishing, and I hope you’ll continue to support EKU. By building support together, let’s ensure our students experience excellence at Eastern Kentucky University.
One Eastern,
David T. McFaddin, Ed. D. President, Eastern Kentucky University
leadership updateS |
We’re making history at Eastern Kentucky University, and it’s because of you and your generosity. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, EKU had a record-breaking fundraising year in 2020-21. In just one year, our giving community committed nearly $10 million. Donors, like you, generously and selflessly gave to ensure the best possible Eastern experience for students. With your support, we have surpassed our $50 million goal for the Make No Little Plans Campaign — the largest comprehensive campaign in the university’s history. We started this monumental journey in 2015, and I’m excited to share that as of June 30, we’ve raised over $51 million in commitments from more than 10,000 donors. Campaign contributions make a lasting impact on the university and students, supporting scholarships, programs, campus revitalization, and so much more. Since the beginning of the campaign, the number of students receiving scholarships has doubled, and the amount of scholarship dollars awarded has also doubled. This support is truly transformational, and enables EKU to be excellent in all that we do. THANK YOU for making our success possible. Although we have met our goal, the campaign continues as we raise critical funds to support excellence at EKU. Our university provides opportunity for those who seek advancement in life. We offer hope that with knowledge and experience, anything is possible. And we embody the idea that with education and hard work,
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Dear Colonel Community,
| leadership updateS
It is my pleasure and privilege to serve as the newest chair of the Eastern Kentucky University Foundation Board. I assume this role with a promise to work diligently to fill the shoes of my predecessor, Maribeth Berman. Her leadership and passion for the university led to great changes to the board, including recruiting active, dedicated, and enthusiastic members; restructuring committees; and building processes for engagement with the campus and students. I hope to continue this momentum in this season of growth. In 1983, I was a kid from the West End of Louisville, Kentucky, searching for a better future. I decided to attend EKU after a single visit. During that visit, I felt a great sense of community and knew this was where I belonged. Because of this sense of community, I immediately got involved. I joined Kappa Alpha Psi and was voted president of the fraternity and the Panhellenic Council early in my EKU experience. I also joined ROTC and went on to become an Army officer with the
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101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) upon graduation in 1987. My EKU experience was foundational to my long and successful corporate career with Kimberly Clark, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Domino’s Pizza, and Mondelez International. I always knew the importance of giving back and felt obligated to do my part to provide an EKU experience to others searching for a future. When approached by the university to join the Foundation Board, I immediately accepted. The desire to better the lives of EKU students is a focus of every board meeting. I can assure you that every single member of the Foundation Board has the exact same motivation and drive. We want to ensure that past Colonels remain proud to have attended this university and that present and future Colonels are afforded the best opportunities. We want to ensure more students are given a chance to learn and grow on the Campus Beautiful. To help make this goal a reality, our board oversees the EKU Foundation. I am thrilled to announce that the Foundation’s endowment has grown from $69.7 million at the start of our campaign in 2015, to $92.2 million this fiscal year. This growth allows the university to invest more in student scholarships, academic excellence, and campus revitalization — the three pillars of our current comprehensive campaign, Make No Little Plans. As noted in the letter from President David T. McFaddin, we are beyond excited to have met the goal of our campaign. But as he also stated, our work is not finished. The Foundation Board is committed to working hard every day to bring more donors into the EKU giving community so we can achieve excellence in all we do. Thank you for joining us in this mission and for continuing to make gifts that will enhance the lives of so many students. As individuals, we can make a difference. Together, we can make history. We have already reached our largest philanthropic goal in the history of EKU. Let’s shatter that goal and set a new standard. We encourage you to continue to make Eastern a priority and to continue to give the gift of education. I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I look forward to meeting many of you at our beloved EKU. Come home to Eastern, and make new memories. I hope to see you back on campus or engaged from afar, spreading your Colonel pride everywhere you go. Sincerely,
Troy Ellis Troy Ellis, ’87 Foundation Board Chair
The Ravine Society recognizes alumni and friends whose lifetime cumulative giving has reached $100,000 or more.
61 DONORS
leadership updateS | 3
MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS: THE CAMPAIGN FOR EKU FY 2015 – 2021 TOTAL GIFTS TOTAL:
$51,346,497 $50 M (GOAL)
$9,968,280
$3,284,235
$40 M $8,345,235
$30 M
$7,904,945
$8,397,336
$20 M
$8,696,559
$10 M
| STatisticS
$4,749,907
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FY 2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
These amounts include cash, new pledges, and planned gifts.
FISCAL YEAR-END DATA SUMMARY DATE
ENDOWMENT
CASH RECEIPTS
NUMBER OF DONORS
NUMBER OF ALUMNI DONORS
2017
$65,639,000
$4,664,000
11,044
4,692
2018
$69,329,000
$3,633,000
10,233
4,228
2019
$69,139,000
$3,539,000
9,747
3,913
2020
$69,765,000
$2,641,000
8,545
2,746
2021
$92,211,000
$6,701,677
9,919
3,080
AVERAGE GIFT BY YEAR 2017
2018
2019
2020
FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED 2017
2021 $676 600
$422 $355
$363 $309
2018
2019
2020
2,000
500
1,600
400
1,200
1,995 1,797 1,425 1,151
300
2021
1,252
800 200 100
400
$1,024,672 $1,128,039
$1,224,675 $1,304,360 $1,341,889
STatisticS |
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% 31.2
ENDOWMENT RETURN RATE FISCAL YEAR 2021
GIVING BY SOURCE $447,882
$1,057,563
$1,401,195
$3,419,884
2019 $1,425,936
$186,851
2021
$445,568
TOTAL CASH GIVING: $3,539,058
TOTAL CASH GIVING
$92,861
$6,701,677
$978,896 $812,699
$249,527
$506,743
n Alumni | STatisticS
$461,152
2020 $1,105,651
TOTAL CASH GIVING: $2,640,726
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$289,054
n Corporations n Friends
n Foundations
n Other
52%
NEW SCHOLARSHIPS CREATED
STUDENTS ENROLLED
OF FRESHMEN ARE FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS, COMPARED WITH 45% OF ALL UNDERGRADUATES
STUDENT SNAPSHOT 2020-21
3,515 EKU STUDENTS COME FROM ALL 50 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C., AND RANGE IN AGE FROM 16 TO 73
47%
% 74 OF STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL AID
AVERAGE STUDENT GPA
3.2
INCREASE IN UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY DEGREES AWARDED OVER FIVE YEARS
#1 IN KENTUCKY EMPLOYMENT FOR BACHELOR’S DEGREE HOLDERS
STatisticS |
OF STUDENTS ARE CATEGORIZED AS LOW-INCOME
DEGREES CONFERRED
23%
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PLANNED GIVING | planned giving
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Karen ann hawkins, ’68
IMPACTING STUDENTS’ LIVES FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME
“Karen Ann Hawkins and her incredible gift are proof that EKU is more than just a place where you come to get a degree. It’s a place where you can transform your life, and in her case, transform the lives of so many with her incredible gift.”
Eastern Kentucky University received its single largest gift in the school’s history, more than $2.5 million left by Karen Ann Hawkins, ’68, who passed away last November. Hawkins’ uncle, Dave Disponett, described her as a very private and humble person. Entrusted by Hawkins to carry out her final wishes, Disponett said he felt honored to work with EKU to establish two new scholarships in Hawkins’ memory. “That’s what she wanted; and I want what she wants,” Disponett said. “She would want the scholarship to go to someone who needs it and help them get a college degree.” The Karen Ann Hawkins Anderson County Scholarship provides a generous award to students with financial need from Hawkins’ home of Anderson County, Kentucky. The Karen Ann Hawkins General Scholarship will be awarded to students with financial need from any high school in Kentucky. Hawkins, 75 at the time of her passing, was a retired program analyst for medical assistance for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She was a member of the Lawrenceburg First Baptist Church, a member and past president of the Beta Sigma Phi international sorority, and served on the Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Zoning Commission for eight years. She enjoyed traveling, reading, and making crewel embroidery. “Eastern Kentucky University has an enduring legacy of impact on this state and its people,” said EKU President Dr. David T. McFaddin. “Karen Ann Hawkins and her incredible gift are proof that EKU is more than just a place where you come to get a degree. It’s a place where you can transform your life, and in her case, transform the lives of so many with her incredible gift.” The university honored Hawkins and her bequest with a memorial celebration in her hometown of Lawrenceburg in July. McFaddin and many of Eastern’s leaders met with Hawkins’ friends and family to celebrate her life and her legacy at EKU. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for this gift,” said Betina Gardner, vice president for development and alumni engagement. “Her giving spirit will make it possible for the EKU experience to continue for generations to come.” With Hawkins’ legacy carved in stone, the back of her gravestone reads: A proud Eastern Kentucky University graduate who provided generous financial support to her beloved alma mater that will impact lives for generations.
The Legacy Society recognizes alumni and friends who have provided for EKU in their estate plans. These charitable contributions greatly benefit Eastern while often offering substantial tax advantages to the donors. The most common form of an estate or “planned” gift is a will bequest in which a donor names EKU as beneficiary of a specific dollar amount or percentage of an estate. Other planned gift options include charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and gifts of life insurance. A number of unique variations are possible with these plans, many of which provide donors with lifetime payments.
276 MEMBERS ————————————
3 NEW COMMITMENTS ————————————
$3,505,000 PLEDGED
Dylan Robinson
THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME Dylan Robinson, a forensic biology major, feels honored to be among the first recipients of the Karen Ann Hawkins Anderson County Scholarship. “Coming from the small town of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, a scholarship of this magnitude means the world to me and my family,” Robinson said. “Hopefully, by the end of my EKU college experience, I can graduate and take my skills and understanding of the world to make an impact on everyone around me.” Robinson chose EKU for its reputable forensic science program, and because he felt like it was where he belonged. Now as a freshman at EKU, he says, “The one thing that sticks out is how friendly everyone is, which reminds me of my hometown in Anderson County.” Derived from Eastern’s single largest contribution in the university’s history, the Karen Ann Hawkins Anderson County Scholarship will help many more generations of students from Anderson County, Kentucky, achieve a college degree. “I look forward to seeing more people from Anderson County have the same opportunity as me and hope it betters their college experience,” Robinson said. “The scholarship has been a great help to me financially as I can focus my time and energy on my studies and campus life.”
STUDENT SUCCESS
The Mohanty Family
| STUDENT SUCCESS
SCHOLARSHIP CONTINUES PROFESSOR’S LEGACY
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“He wanted the students to study,” said Sarat Mohanty about her husband, Dr. Amiya Kumar Mohanty, professor emeritus and retired full professor of sociology at EKU. “And to study well and do research and be successful. That was his goal.” Upon Dr. Mohanty’s passing in 2020, his wife Sarat and two children, Meena and Ranjan, ’91, decided to honor his legacy at EKU by establishing the Amiya Kumar Mohanty Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in sociology who authors the best sociology paper, among other criteria. “It’s a way to both recognize my dad’s contribution to Eastern, while also continuing his goal for students to keep learning and striving to be better and develop ideas that they put into a paper and share those ideas,” Meena said. “We wanted to support something he believed in.” Dr. Mohanty came to the United States as the first recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship from the state of Orissa in India. He led a highly distinguished career in academics and was world-renowned for his research and papers. Meena said people would send their Ph.D. dissertations from other countries
for him to do the evaluations. Sarat shared that Dr. Mohanty still holds a record at Florida State for finishing his Ph.D. in just two years. Sarat taught math at EKU as an adjunct professor and at Lexington Community College. Working in academics allowed her the opportunity to travel the world with her husband. They spent 10 months in Jordan, where Dr. Mohanty studied and researched for a grant he received as a senior postdoctoral fellow at the American Center of Oriental Research. They also spent a semester in Malaysia, where he taught as a Fulbright Specialist, and traveled to India for a research grant he received from the Smithsonian Institute. In addition to his contributions in sociology and academics, Dr. Mohanty served on many professional and social organizations, including terms as president for the Anthropologists and Sociologists of Kentucky, the Bluegrass Indo-American Civic Society, and the Orissa Society of the Americas. “His whole career was centered at Eastern, and it was just a big part of our lives,” said Meena. When determining how best to continue his legacy, she said EKU was the obvious choice for her family to remember his achievements and commitment to educating students.
Nelson Horseman, ’73 ’75
A PERFECT FIT FOR GIVING BACK Dr. Nelson Horseman, ’73 ’75, attributes the start of his career path in research and education to the professors at EKU. While earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology, his professor, Dr. Sanford Jones, ’50, retired EKU professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences and College of Science Iconic Professor, saw great potential in Horseman. With shared research interests, the two formed a decades-long bond that continues to this day. “Nelson always liked the experiments we did and special projects, in which he did very well in the inquiry process to become a great scientist,” Jones said. “He was one of those students that whatever I’ve done for him, he’s done more for me. He has kept up with me and has been a person of uniqueness in my life.” Horseman spent the majority of his career at the University of Cincinnati as a professor and fellow of the graduate school, researching endocrinology and making discoveries that impact lactation and breast cancer. After retiring, Horseman wanted to give back to EKU and support the priorities of the Department of Biological Sciences. “It was easy to tell how much they believed in the Peer Mentoring Center. It was perfect for me,” Horseman said. He established the Dr. Nelson D. Horseman Endowment for Student Success to support the Department of Biological Sciences Peer Mentoring Center. “Peer mentoring has the huge benefit that it helps both the mentee and the mentor who is teaching them. You never truly learn a subject until you have to teach it to someone else.” The Biological Sciences Peer Mentoring Center is housed in the Science Building and staffed by upper-division undergraduate students. Dr. Malcolm Frisbie, professor and chair of EKU’s Department of Biological Sciences, said the Peer Mentoring Center contributes to student success by offering tutoring for students, forging a connection between new and upper-class students, and providing valuable learning experiences for the student mentors. “We are grateful for Dr. Horseman’s generous support that helps current and future EKU students taking biology courses, regardless of their major, achieve their academic and career aspirations,” said Dr. Tom Otieno, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “The endowment created by Dr. Horseman provides a perpetual source of funding, giving students the space and resources to learn, interact, and support each other throughout their academic journey.”
Nick Koenig, ’21
A PIVOTAL EXPERIENCE
STUDENT SUCCESS |
Nick Koenig, ’21, from Louisville, Kentucky, is truly one of Eastern Kentucky University’s superstar students. He became the first EKU student ever to win a prestigious DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Fellowship. He was Eastern’s first-ever Rhodes Scholar finalist in 2020. He was awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship in 2019, one of only four EKU Colonels to ever earn that distinction, and he is now attending the University of Cambridge in England to study for a master’s degree, among many other honors. To top it off, he was elected student body vice president by his peers his senior year. Koenig worked at the Biological Sciences Peer Mentoring Center for two years, “a pivotal aspect of my collegiate experience at EKU,” he said, helping to shape his career goals of becoming a botany professor. “I absolutely loved doing group study sessions with students and seeing all the students collaborate to work through understanding complex biological theories,” he said. “The tutoring center has provided an opportunity to not learn to learn, but learn to teach biological knowledge.” Like Dr. Nelson Horseman, Koenig credits the start of his career journey to the professors at EKU. “There are few universities where professors can and will spend the time with a student so selflessly and genuinely than at EKU,” Koenig said. “So many professors’ mentoring styles will shape my own if I am able to be in a similar seat they are in.”
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Chastity Ross Helping Hand Scholarship
A COMMUNITY OF DONORS HONOR A FRIEND’S LEGACY
MaryAnn Gray
| STUDENT SUCCESS
INSPIRED TO SERVE OTHERS
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“An amazing special education teacher in high school” inspired Model Laboratory High School graduate MaryAnn Gray to pursue a degree in special education for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). From Richmond, Kentucky, Gray chose EKU for its reputable DHH program, and because it was close to home. Now as a junior, she likes the smaller classes at Eastern, allowing her to feel more connected with other students and professors. Upon graduation, she plans to teach children who are deaf and hard of hearing and wants to “give students the best learning experience possible.” Receiving a Foundation scholarship is helping Gray realize her dream of serving others. “Scholarships are helping me earn my education as well as lessen the impact on my tuition,” she said. “I am so grateful for all the opportunities that EKU has given me. While being at EKU, there have been challenges and successes to help me grow as a person and have a great career. EKU has also helped me become more outgoing, having great friends and amazing professors that I can count on and learn from.”
Chastity Ross, ’01, was born with congenital birth defects and scoliosis, and without a right arm and half of her right leg. The medical community gave her bleak odds of survival as a newborn, but what they couldn’t read in a medical chart was that Ross had a fighting spirit—an internal force that would guide her life. Against the odds, she survived infancy, spending her first few years at Shriners Children’s Hospital. During early childhood, Ross’ path to service was formed. Her time was spread between her many surgeries at Shriners and attending Model Laboratory School. Even then she was an advocate, serving as a representative for Shiners, greeting then First Lady Nancy Reagan as she toured the facility. “In part, Chastity credited her strength and persistence to the teachers she had as a child at Model Laboratory School. She was always given the opportunity to show what she was capable of regardless of any physical issue, and Chastity forever appreciated that,” said Marie Fore, EKU development officer and friend of Ross. “She led by example, a trait she would use the rest of her life. In return, the students at Model rallied around Chastity, inspired by her determination and overjoyed by her endless humor.” Ross’ passions met with potential as a student at EKU, where she found a calling in special education. She learned American Sign Language, using just one hand, so she could advocate for those with different needs. After graduation, she worked in crisis case management, helping protect those who suffered abuse and exploitation. She led children’s youth groups, volunteered to assist people with mental and physical disabilities, and spoke to groups and schools about overcoming challenges. As her friends share, Ross’ service contributions are countless. Through school, her career, and her personal life, Ross positively impacted the lives of others. When Ross suddenly passed away, the community that she had given so much, generously gave back to honor her memory. Susan Stephens and Frances Bayer, lifelong friends of Ross since Model, led the effort to start a scholarship in Ross’ memory. The Chastity Ross Helping Hand Scholarship will support a student with a physical disability or a student whose future goal is to serve children or adults with physical disabilities. Demonstrating her impact on the world, gifts to support this effort have come from across the country, by friends and coworkers from Model, EKU, and Ross’ numerous community organizations.
Jaley-Anne Dixon
A CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY CLOSE TO HOME Jaley-Anne Dixon has a passion for finance that has blossomed through the business finance program at Eastern Kentucky University. After getting the opportunity to work as a part-time teller at Citizens Guaranty Bank in June of 2020, she decided to pursue a BBA in finance to gain further opportunities within the banking community. “The thing I like most about EKU is the teachers’ dedication to help students excel,” said Dixon. “EKU has a good reputation within the business community, so I knew I would get to learn from great professors,” Dixon added. Coming from a large family of nine, the close-knit and caring Colonel community at EKU appealed to Dixon. “My family is very important in my life, and EKU being so close to home makes being a Colonel an even better experience,” said Dixon, from Richmond, Kentucky.
Rob, ’73, and Amy Click
GIVING STUDENTS HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES
STudent succesS |
A native of Richmond, Kentucky, Rob Click is a graduate of both Model Laboratory School and Eastern Kentucky University, earning his bachelor’s in business administration in 1973. After college, Rob moved to Columbus, Ohio, and began a career in commercial real estate. Eventually he became an owner and co-chairman of Mathews Click & Associates, the largest commercial property management and brokerage firm in central Ohio with offices in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Indianapolis. Mathews Click was acquired by CBRE, a Fortune 500 firm, in 1998 after which Rob served in various national and local leadership positions for the balance of his career. He continues to be associated with the firm, consulting with major clients and chairing CBRE’s 401-K committee which oversees a $3.6 billion retirement fund. Attending EKU “certainly gave me a solid education and a good foundation to go forward with my career,” Rob said. “I think Eastern does a fabulous job, especially giving first-generation college students an education,” he added. Rob, along with his wife Amy, established the Robert and Amy Click Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) in the College of Business. Their generous gift is the catalyst to establish a class that teaches students about the stock and bond markets and allows them to manage portfolios through practical experience. The Student Managed Investment Fund, a part of the EKU Foundation, “gives students majoring in finance and business the opportunity to research and buy stocks and bonds and build an actual investment portfolio, not just follow investments with no consequences,” said Rob. Students in the class will be responsible to “not only build a portfolio of investments, but follow, manage, and report on their progress and see the results of their efforts in actual returns,” he added. Interim Dean of the EKU College of Business Dr. Ryan Baggett noted, “The transformational gift from the Clicks enables applied learning experiences to strengthen the academic performance of our students, but it also increases student retention and improves employment outcomes post-graduation. The college is grateful to the Clicks for providing hands-on experiences to our future business leaders.” Rob and Amy’s goal for the SMIF is not only that it increases in value, but that a portion of the revenue generated from the class each year creates scholarships. “Imagine how meaningful and impactful it would be to have student managed investments generate returns that the class can award as scholarships for other students at EKU,” said Rob.
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BURKE CHRISTENSEN
STILL HELPING STUDENTS “GO PLACES”
Jasmine liaupsin
| STUDENT SUCCESS
LIGHTENING FINANCIAL STRESS
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For many years, EKU’s Risk Management and Insurance program has supplied a much-needed pipeline of well-prepared graduates for a vital profession. With the assistance of the Burke A. Christensen Legacy Scholarship, which bears the name of a professor/ administrator who was integral to the growth and success of the program, Jasmine Liaupsin will soon join the swelling ranks of EKU alumni launching successful careers in the profession. Through her membership in Gamma Iota Sigma, the professional fraternity for insurance students, the senior from Wilmore, Kentucky, learned of and secured an internship with Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI), just one of “many memories and experiences that I will value forever.” The internship led to Liaupsin gaining a full-time claims technician position with KEMI. “This scholarship has lightened the financial stress factor and allowed me to focus completely on my schoolwork as I finish my degree,” said Liaupsin, who dreams of someday opening her own insurance agency.
When he helmed EKU’s Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) program, Burke Christensen saw great value in introducing his students to a “wider world.” That’s why he regularly took them to some of the world’s leading centers of insurance and reinsurance (Great Britain and China, for example) as well as numerous professional conferences throughout the U.S. Many had never been on an airplane or even outside Kentucky. After helping countless protégés find success through the only program of its kind in Kentucky, Christensen retired in 2021, but thanks to a new scholarship that bears his name, future generations of Eastern RMI students will continue to go places, figuratively and literally. His wife, Louan and oldest son, Andrew, proposed the scholarship and worked with the University Development office to make their dream a reality. The couple’s other children also played key roles with their contributions, encouragement, and participation. Christensen joined EKU in 2006 and was named the Robert B. Morgan Chair of Insurance in the RMI program. From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of the program and then as professor. “My predecessor, Dr. Peter Kensicki, built the program to become one of the best undergraduate programs in the country,” Christensen said. “My successor, Dr. Lisa Gardner, is an insurance scholar and a great leader. She and my faculty colleague, Dr. Siwei Gao, are continuing their success and building an international reputation for the program. I am very pleased that I was able to build on the foundation created by Dr. Kensicki and that we were able to find Dr. Gardner. I was also delighted to be able to find and hire Debbie Ellis as our program coordinator. She is a huge asset to the program.” Christensen said graduates of EKU’s RMI program are “now in great jobs as home office, regional, and field underwriters, adjusters, claims specialists, and agency managers. This scholarship will help attract more bright young minds to EKU.” Many students in the program will be the first in their families to graduate from college, Christensen noted, often struggling to afford higher education. “I am particularly happy that this scholarship will help those students. My own father and mother are first-generation college graduates who were children of farmers who had little education. My family, friends, and I are happy to pay forward the benefits we received from getting college degrees.”
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
At EKU, we are in the business of making a difference in the lives of our students. Faculty play a central role in this endeavor. It makes lots of sense to support a fund designed to support current and future faculty so they can have the greatest impact possible in the lives of our students.
Dr. Iddah, ’01, and Dean Tom Otieno
EDUCATORS SUPPORTING EDUCATORS “As an educator myself, supporting faculty growth and development in the areas of teaching and research matters to me,” Iddah said. “Investing in faculty means investing in quality teaching for our students.” In addition to supporting the College of Science Endowment for Faculty Success Fund, Tom developed the Iconic Professors initiative. The College of Science recognized its first Iconic Professors in 2020, naming prominent spaces in the Science Building after three former professors who positively impacted the lives of students. “Tom has done a remarkable job of embedding fundraising into the strategic plan for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics,” said Dr. Jerry Pogatshnik, retired executive vice president for academic affairs and provost for EKU. “He has been a leader at EKU in developing relationships with external partners and finding creative and meaningful opportunities for them to participate in our mission at EKU. Tom’s Iconic Professors initiative has brought together many former students and faculty and strengthened their connections to EKU – and importantly secured critical resources in support of a culture of scholarship and academic excellence.”
academic excellence |
Having dedicated their careers to higher education, Dr. Iddah and Dean Tom Otieno know firsthand the impact faculty have on a student’s education. For this reason, the couple generously supports the College of Science Endowment for Faculty Success at EKU. The fund provides a reliable source of support for faculty development, research, and tools for effective and innovative teaching. “At EKU, we are in the business of making a difference in the lives of our students,” said Dr. Tom Otieno, dean of EKU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “Faculty play a central role in this endeavor. It makes lots of sense to support a fund designed to support current and future faculty so they can have the greatest impact possible in the lives of our students.” Tom began his EKU career 26 years ago as an assistant professor in chemistry. From there, he became a professor, then took on various administrative roles, including assistant dean, associate dean, interim chair, and founding dean of the College of Science. Dr. Iddah Otieno, an English and African studies professor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and director of the Kenya exchange program for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, teaches as an adjunct professor at EKU in African/African American studies.
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KASSIDY EASTERLING, ’20 SCHOLARSHIPS HELPED JUMP-START PROMISING CAREER
| academic excellence
Her faculty mentors at EKU “set this university apart from others,” the banking program offered a curriculum directly related to her current work, and donors whose generosity funded a variety of scholarships ensured that Kassidy Easterling, ’20, could focus on her scholarly pursuits and participate in numerous career-related extracurricular activities and networking opportunities. Consequently, Easterling earned a regional internship with the FDIC as a student and transitioned to become a full-time financial institution specialist shortly after earning dual degrees in accounting and general business, with a minor in banking and financial services (recently upgraded to a concentration within the bachelor’s degree program). Her many scholarships included the 2019 and 2020 Matthew A. Evans Endowed Scholarship for finance majors planning to pursue a banking career. “EKU students are incredibly lucky to have the support of so many scholarship donors,” said Easterling, who hopes to become a commissioned compliance examiner for the FDIC in roughly three years. “Every scholarship, no matter the size, is impactful to a student.”
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MATT EVANS, ’91
BUILDING TOMORROW’S BANKING LEADERS Just as EKU gave him the “building blocks” for his own career success, Matt Evans, ’91, wants to help groom current and future students at his alma mater to become leaders in the banking profession. That’s why the third-generation Eastern graduate established an endowed scholarship fund to assist deserving finance majors who plan to follow in his footsteps. When the scholarship was established, Eastern offered only a minor in banking and financial services. Now with a banking concentration available within the finance major and the university’s first scholarship geared specifically for students pursuing a career in banking, the College of Business is well-positioned to supply a steady pipeline of talent for generations to come. Few know that need better than Evans, president and CEO of Bankers Service Corporation, a bank auditing and consulting firm in Lexington, Kentucky, who has played a leading role in the development of the program. “EKU business students already receive quality instruction, but I saw the need for more tailored classes to put them ahead of other schools when it comes to a future banking career,” Evans said. “Kentucky, a very strong community banking state, offers a ready-made supply of good banking jobs, but we need graduates who have some real-world experience and technical knowledge. That’s where our banking program’s curriculum exceeds our peers (and) is catching the eye of employers in the state, including the regulators. We feel strongly that we haven’t even scratched the surface yet on the potential for the program.” The Danville native’s contributions to Eastern and its School of Business are hardly limited to the Matthew A. Evans Endowed Scholarship Fund. He serves as vice chair of the EKU Foundation Board, previously chaired the School of Business Advisory Committee, and now chairs the Banking Program Advisory Committee. Maggie Abney, director of EKU’s Banking Program, one of only 20-25 such programs nationwide, said Evans and “a small group of people came together and recognized an opportunity to help our students and the banking community.” She called Evans “a constant champion of the development of our program and of making it the highest quality we can offer.” “We are literally putting students to work at banks and regulatory agencies,” Evans said. “This is the ultimate American dream.” And it’s a dream now within reach for the countless students who will benefit from his generosity of time, talent, and treasure.
Donna Famularo
REMEMBERING A LIFE DEDICATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT In honor of her late husband’s lifelong commitment to law enforcement, Donna Famularo established the Joseph L. Famularo Endowed Scholarship and Excellence Fund at EKU. “I wanted to further the advancement of law enforcement, and I couldn’t think of a better way of doing that than in memory of his name and career,” Donna said. As a prosecuting attorney, Joseph Famularo began his career as an assistant attorney general, then held several other positions, including legal advisor for the Kentucky State Police, assistant U.S. attorney, chief deputy attorney general for the state, and public safety commissioner for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, among others. He reached the pinnacle of his career, Donna said, when President Bill Clinton appointed him as the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Donna remembers having a conversation with her husband about what he wanted his legacy to be, and he told her he didn’t care about people remembering that he was a lawyer, but wanted people to know he spent his life advocating for law enforcement. “Policing and law enforcement were more important to him than his law degree,” Donna said. “He used his law degree to enhance law enforcement.” When Joseph passed away in 2002, Donna chose to initiate a fund at EKU because of its reputable College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science, and because she wanted to provide needs-based assistance for people in the region. The Joseph L. Famularo Endowed Scholarship and Excellence Fund provides scholarships to students pursuing criminal justice or police studies and supports faculty in the furtherance of law enforcement through research opportunities and professional development. “It’s my hope that it can expand the future and quality of law enforcement, and it will be helpful for someone who is interested in law enforcement to accomplish his or her goals,” Donna said. She, too, spent her career in the legal field, but with the U.S. Courts, and holds a deep appreciation for law enforcement. Now through the Joseph L. Famularo Endowed Scholarship and Excellence Fund, Joseph’s legacy continues while supporting the next generation of law enforcement professionals.
Friends of the Center is the annual giving group for the EKU Center for the Arts, the region’s primary performing arts and entertainment venue. The organization provides sustaining support for the EKU Center to enhance the patron experience. It performs educational outreach, funds facility improvements, and brings together a fun-loving, like-minded community for amazing experiences. Friends of the Center members enjoy exclusive access to performance-enhancing benefits such as premier parking, meet-and-greets with performers, advance notice of shows, and early ticket purchasing opportunities.
103 DONORS ————————————
RAISED
academic excellence |
$20,249
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richard mattingly, ’78
TURNING PERSONAL TRAGEDY INTO A HOPEFUL FUTURE
Yelena VerEnchuk
| academic excellence
INVESTMENT ENABLES STUDENT’S SUCCESS
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Her educational and career path has certainly been long, circuitous, and challenging, but Yelena Verenchuk is now beginning to realize a long-held dream, thanks to her own steely resolve and the Carolyn C. Mattingly Endowed Scholarship for students in EKU’s psychiatric nursing program. Verenchuk came to Kentucky as an exchange student in 1997, attended North Laurel High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Southern Adventist University. Her plans were interrupted by a 10-year return to her native Russia to achieve compliance with visa requirements. Shortly before leaving her homeland to return to Kentucky, she added a master’s degree in psychology from Moscow City University. After resuming her nursing career in Kentucky, Verenchuk became the first at her Manchester hospital to become a nationally certified medical surgical nurse. She then began pursuing a new career goal as a graduate student: psychiatric health nurse practitioner. “My husband and I returned to America in 2012 with two children (they now have three), two suitcases, little money, and a lot of ambition,” she recalled. “The Carolyn C. Mattingly Endowed Scholarship helped me financially, but more than that, it encouraged me that there are people out there who are invested in my academic success.”
He can’t change the past, but Richard Mattingly hopes to shape the future. And that’s why the 1978 EKU graduate established a scholarship fund to support students in his alma mater’s psychiatric nursing program. After his wife, Carolyn, ’79, was tragically murdered, Mattingly retired in 2015 following a distinguished career of more than 37 years with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), including more than two decades as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the CFF and its affiliates, Cystic Fibrosis Services Inc. and Cystic Foundation Therapeutics Inc. Mattingly has been credited with milestone achievements for the CFF through his innovative fundraising strategies, market development philosophy, and state-of-the-art nonprofit management structure. He’s most proud of the significant scientific advances developed during his career. The CFF is widely regarded as the most innovative nonprofit of the modern era and the creators of “venture philanthropy” that led to the development of life-saving therapies. His passionate leadership earned him numerous awards, but notably, in 2016, the CFF established the Carolyn and Richard Mattingly Award to honor CF-related medical professionals who excel in the field of mental health. Most significantly, to honor his late wife and advance “a mission to turn an unacceptable tragedy into a quantifiable agenda addressing mental health,” he founded The Luv u Project Inc., which led to an alliance with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the first-ever academic center in the U.S. focused on research and development of mental health initiatives in the workplace. Now, thanks to a personal passion that never wanes, the EKU scholarship will help prepare generations of deserving students to treat mental health disorders. “Mental illness affects one in four Americans,” he noted, “and many people endure debilitating mental disorders and dependency on drugs and alcohol that destroy quality of life, and sometimes life itself. To address these challenges, we need qualified professionals and certainly extraordinary nurses. We were certainly inspired by the strength and track record of the EKU nursing program.” A member of the EKU Foundation Board, Mattingly said he has known many “wonderful and gifted” people who “just needed a boost along their paths to success. So anything we can do to relieve the financial burden for a hard-working, qualified individual is vital.” He hopes the scholarship offers more than just financial benefits as it shows recipients that “we are with them on their journey to make a difference.”
Milestone Society The Milestone Society celebrates those dedicated alumni and friends who demonstrate their support of EKU’s mission and vision through two or more consecutive annual gifts.
3,065 DONORS
CAMPUS REVITALIZATION
“Each of my intellectual contributions connects me with a broader community of like-minded individuals who aim to understand how human behavior in the workplace can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations. I share these ideas directly with current business managers, my own students who are the future leaders of these companies, and my peers in the academic community.”
Dr. Beth Polin
| CAMPUS REVITALIZATION
BUILDING FOUNDATIONS FOR FACULTY
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Research forms the foundation of Dr. Beth Polin’s identity as an EKU faculty member “because it allows for exploration and creation of knowledge. Each of my intellectual contributions connects me with a broader community of like-minded individuals who aim to understand how human behavior in the workplace can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations. My skillset allows me to … investigate workplace issues to provide valid and reliable recommendations for organizational improvement. I share these ideas directly with current business managers, my own students who are the future leaders of these companies, and my peers in the academic community.” And that is why Polin, assistant professor of management, feels “honored” to receive the first Dean Robert B. Rogow Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award. “Work in my field of organizational behavior is rewarding because it directly
affects people and their everyday work lives,” Polin said. “People desire to work in an organizational culture that supports transparent communication, meaningful decision making, successful teamwork, authentic leadership, and functional conflict management. These activities affect employees’ commitment to, engagement in, and motivation with their organizations, and employee performance, in turn, affects the customer experience.” Given its constant change, “business must continually evolve, and this pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness will only be achieved if rigorous academic studies and their results are communicated to the practitioner community. Dr. Rogow and his family are champions of this cause.” Furthermore, EKU’s state-of-the-art Business and Technology Center – a vision led by Rogow – and the Rogow Business Library provide the space and resources for Polin to conduct research and share knowledge with students.
Dr. Robert rogow
BOOSTING FACULTY RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP
Zachary McCoy
A “BLESSING” ON A “LIFEALTERING” JOURNEY One more “blessing” on a “life-altering journey.” That’s how Zachary McCoy views his Robert B. Rogow Endowed Scholarship. “To see how God has blessed me and to see where He is taking me is remarkable,” said McCoy, a junior public accounting major from Richmond, Kentucky, who plans to be a CPA. “As I continue my studies and work hard toward my career, I will not forget the kindness of being accepted for this scholarship. It lifted the financial burden off my shoulders so that I may focus on my studies.” As he progresses toward his degree with an eye to an accounting career, McCoy has found the Rogow Business Library, named in honor of Dean Rogow’s career within the College of Business, especially helpful. He used the resource to assist local taxpayers with their annual returns and found it to be a “great spot to mingle with colleagues and discuss upcoming coursework and exams.”
CAMPUS REVITALIZATION |
As dean of EKU’s College of Business and Technology from 1998 until his retirement in 2014, Dr. Robert Rogow oversaw the planning, construction, and dedication of the Business and Technology Center and played a leading role in the establishment of the EKU Center for the Arts. But this now-retired emeritus professor and administrator knows that the true cornerstone of any academic program is its faculty. That’s why he and his wife, Carol, retired school library media specialist and emeritus member of the EKU Friends of the Libraries Executive Board, established and funded the Dean Robert B. Rogow Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award. Under Rogow’s leadership as dean, EKU earned its initial accreditation from AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in 2003 — a distinction held by only 5 percent of business programs worldwide. Reaccreditation followed in 2012. “To achieve accreditation for professional programs, such as business or applied engineering and technology, requires an extensive evaluation of all aspects of an academic program, including the strength of the faculty’s teaching, research, scholarship, and service,” Rogow said. “To achieve and maintain professional accreditation, faculty have become more actively engaged in research and scholarship that positively contributes to faculty knowledge and expertise. Their research and scholarship are then shared with students in the classroom and with other faculty and professionals. Also, faculty who are engaged in research and scholarship can actively involve and mentor students in their investigative projects. Such faculty-student collaboration develops and expands student knowledge and critical thinking skills.” To recognize his many accomplishments at EKU, the Rogow Business Library housed in the Business and Technology Center was named in his honor. Rogow’s tenure as dean was also distinguished by the implementation and initial accreditation of the golf management program by the PGA, the revitalization of the Distinguished Speaker Series and Business Advisory Council, an emphasis on international studies and travel, the establishment of the annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards program, and the expansion of EKU Aviation and the professional flight program, among other achievements. The previously established Robert B. Rogow C.P.A., Ph.D. Endowed Scholarship helps students in the college reach their educational and career goals. By establishing the Dean Robert B. Rogow Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, the Rogows hope to motivate and inspire faculty both in the College of Business and in applied engineering, technology, and agriculture (now part of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to continue their research and scholarship endeavors and thereby make a difference in the lives of their students and a positive impact on their specialty areas. The award is presented annually to a deserving faculty member in each college.
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Chelsea creech
PHOTON FELLOWS HELPS EKU STUDENT
| CAMPUS REVITALIZATION
Photon Fellows are past, present, and future EKU students who promote environmental responsibility and sustainability. Every year, EKU awards a student who exudes environmental responsibility with the Photon Fellows scholarship. Chelsea Creech, a recreation and park administration major and scholarship recipient, is extremely passionate about the environment. She said, “I want everyone to get the chance to enjoy nature without the negative consequences humans cause. Recreation and park administration is allowing me to find a career I am passionate about and look forward to achieving. It gives me a sense of belonging and purpose with my career because I know I am creating an impact.” When asked how the Photon Fellows scholarship has helped her, Creech said, “I currently rely on student loans to afford school, so having the help from this scholarship has been a relief. I also plan to continue school to gain my master’s, and trying to find ways to afford that is tricky. The Photon Fellow scholarship allowed me to save money to use later on for graduate school.” The recreation and parks administration staff have been one of the defining reasons why Creech joined the program. She stated, “They truly care about their students and want what is best for them. They have helped me greatly in my professional career in multiple ways that I would not have been able to accomplish without them.”
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Dr. Gary, ’62, and Jane Booth
INNOVATIVE PHILANTHROPY Dr. Gary Booth, ’62, spent his career at Procter & Gamble developing products such as Pantene shampoo, Folgers coffee, Bounty paper towels, and Charmin toilet paper, among other household products. Since retiring as the vice president of research and development of Europe and Asia, Gary and his wife, Jane, have now made it their vocation to spur innovation and entrepreneurship in eastern Kentucky. The Booths have funded six solar farms in Kentucky, two at EKU. The energy savings as a result of the solar panels installed on the Science Building provide the Photon Fellows scholarship. The recently completed solar system on the south end of campus offers a valuable educational tool, allowing students to learn about and research alternative energy. “My whole mission in life is for the mountain kids to have their knowledge of the world expanded,” Gary said. “I thought this was a terrific way to do that.” “These solar panels are an excellent demonstration of the ways the fundamental science taught in the College of STEM enables useful technology,” said Dr. Judy Jenkins, associate professor of chemistry at EKU. Additionally, the Booths sponsor STEM camps for kids in eastern Kentucky’s Wolfe County, where Gary was raised. They’re funding an agriculture test plot for hops production. They’ve established numerous scholarships at EKU and other universities. Their list of philanthropic endeavors is long and varied, but the underlying goal behind their support remains the same: Gary and Jane want to provide economic opportunity for the people of eastern Kentucky, and they want to help students from the region achieve a college degree and a good career. Intrigued by the Food, Fashion, and Family study abroad experience, the Booths most recently gave to EKU Family & Consumer Sciences. As part of the study abroad program, students go to Italy for three weeks to study culinary practices, fashion and apparel, and Italian culture. The Booths will be visiting the class in Italy to see the student presentations and hear about what they’ve learned. What’s next for the Booths? Gary wants to initiate a program at EKU to better prepare incoming students from the region to succeed in calculus courses. He also wants to see other alumni get involved and contribute to the progress of the university. And ultimately, he said, “I would like for eastern Kentucky to have made progress toward economic development as a result of this.”
ATHLETICS
Colin Kays
A PASSION FOR SPORTS MOVES CAREER GOALS FORWARD Freshman Colin Kays is already making progress toward his career goals while enjoying many campus life opportunities at EKU. Having always been passionate about sports, Kays chose to pursue a degree in sports management. Ultimately, he wants to work for a professional sports organization. As a team manager for the men’s basketball team at EKU, he’s gaining valuable experience for his future aspirations. “What I like most about EKU is the amount of opportunities that they provide,” said Kays, from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. “They provided me with a chance to get a head start in my career. They provide so many ways to get involved.” Kays plays intramural softball and plans to join more intramural sports teams. He visits the new recreation center for pick-up soccer and basketball and likes attending various student activities and events on campus. Receiving the Paul and Eva Vaughn Commitment to Excellence Scholarship keeps Kays motivated to succeed in the classroom. “The Paul and Eva Vaughn Scholarship is helping me tremendously because it pushes me to be the best student I can be,” he said.
PAUL, ’60, AND eva vaughn, ’59
“HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT TO GIVE BACK?”
athletics |
Paul, ’60, and Eva Vaughn, ’59, have an important message for their fellow Colonels. “Remember how much you have received from EKU: the best education that any college offers; the friends you made and have remained your friends throughout the years; those wonderful, caring professors who took their time to counsel you and see that you succeeded not only in their classes but all classes; and all the fun of campus life – the talent shows, concerts, plays, clubs and organizations, and the sports. “How could you not want to give back to the place that gave you such great memories? You know you want to help other people have the same opportunity. But most of all, you would get the satisfaction of knowing you have helped someone get the best education possible from your beloved Eastern. You will have made an investment in our future!” Fiercely loyal to their alma mater and still a frequent sight on the campus they left more than 60 years ago to begin their careers, the couple from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, backed up their words when they established, and recently augmented, the Paul and Eva Vaughn Commitment to Excellence Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Vaughns have since retired – he a local bank executive, she an elementary schoolteacher – but the endowment that bears their name will help generations of deserving students from Anderson County realize their own educational and career dreams. “Through our work, both of us were able to see the potential in our young people,” Eva said. “We also saw a need for the financial help that some would need to be able to continue their education. By creating the scholarship, we were investing in the education and future of Anderson County through our young people.” The scholarship will allow its recipients to “become involved in all aspects of student life – the clubs and organizations, the many different activities, making new friends, and just becoming an adult,” Paul noted. “Hopefully, they remember that getting an education is the main reason they are there. They do not need the worry of, ‘How am I going to pay for this?’ always hanging over their heads.” The Vaughns are also among EKU Athletics’ most committed supporters. Beginning in the early 80s and spanning decades, Paul attended more than 400 EKU football games in a row. In addition to cheering on the Colonels, Paul and Eva have been financially supporting our student athletes since 1987 with gifts to several funds within the Athletic Department. EKU is honored to have such committed supporters and fans in the Vaughn family.
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Colonel Athletics enhances the full collegiate experience, offering students educational and personal opportunities in the stands, on the field of play, and beyond. Eastern Kentucky University supports over 300 student-athletes in their pursuit of academic, athletic, and personal excellence. The Colonel Club helps provide the resources necessary to maintain a first-class athletics program.
923 DONORS ————————————
$372,752 RAISED
SHANE BURKS, ’20
LESSONS FROM THE FOOTBALL FIELD
Alvin “The Horse” Miller, ’81
FROM UNDERDOG TO MVP
ATHLETICS |
Alvin “The Horse” Miller, ’81, knows what it’s like to be the underdog. Deemed too small and too slow to play college football by other coaches, playing for Eastern Kentucky University as a walk-on player was his last chance at a long-held dream. Taking that chance paid off for all involved when Miller became the MVP (Most Valuable Player) for a national championship team. Now, Miller is paying forward the support he received as a Colonel athlete. He recently made gifts to the Matter of Pride football boosters, as well as the Dance Team, Worn Cleat Club, Colonel’s Cupboard and the Military and Veterans Affairs program. Miller has also established a scholarship, the Alvin and Dominique Miller Endowed Scholarship, to support underrepresented students. Miller was born one of 10 children to a single mother in Fort Pierce, Florida. As other universities refused him a spot on their teams, his outlook appeared bleak. That is, until he met Marvin Day, childhood friend of Coach Roy Kidd, who put him in touch with Eastern’s legendary coach. Miller played tailback as a walk-on. Though the shortest player on the team, he earned the nickname, “The Horse,” for his stallion-like gallop. “When I came to Eastern Kentucky, I found a family that I didn’t have,” said Miller. “Coach Kidd showed me a lot of patience and love, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without determination.” In 1979, Miller’s team won the national championship, the first team from Kentucky ever to do so, and Miller was voted MVP. In addition to his football career, Miller was one of Eastern’s few student-athletes to go through the ROTC program. After graduating and being commissioned in 1981, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served 32 years. He spent the majority of that time serving as a chaplain until his retirement in 2013. “That’s what lifted me to a position in life to give back,” said Miller. In addition to his recent gifts, some proceeds from his upcoming autobiography, “The Horse, Last Chance,” will be designated to EKU Athletics. “We are incredibly grateful for Dr. Alvin Miller’s multi-faceted contributions to EKU Athletics,” said Matt Roan, vice president and director of EKU Athletics. “His lifetime of support extends back from his time as a standout and national champion on the football field through today, as he continues to inspire loyalty and generosity toward his alma mater and leads by example.”
Football Player Shane Burks’ work in the classroom earned him an undergraduate degree in global supply chain management and a certificate in corporate communication and sales. And on the football field, he’s gained leadership qualities, teamwork skills, and lifelong connections to guide him in his next phase of life. “Football is the ultimate team sport; you learn how to be unselfish and trusting of those around you,” Burks said. “As players, we come to work every day with consistency in our performance, with a championship mindset, that allows us to be successful as a team and hopefully will translate into our regular lives.” From Lexington, Kentucky, Burks was originally drawn to EKU for its rich football tradition. Receiving Foundation scholarships enabled him to focus on being a true student-athlete, he said, giving him the time to both complete his classwork and be the best version of himself on the football field. Burks is now working toward a master’s in business administration, and beyond graduation he hopes to start his own company or work in an industry where he can make a difference in the lives of others.
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EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ————————————— JUNE 30, 2021 —————————————
———— ASSETS ———— • CURRENT ASSETS • Cash and cash equivalents Pledges receivable Cash surrender value of life insurance Other current assets TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
$ 17,126,683 $ 403,032 $ 169,363 $ 3,720 $ 17,702,798
• NON-CURRENT ASSETS • Investments $ 89,717,313 $ 425,081 Pledges receivable Property and equipment $ 674,901 $ 55,747 Other non-current assets TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS $ 90,873,042
TOTAL ASSETS
$ 108,575,840
—— LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS —— • CURRENT LIABILITIES • Accounts payable Due to the university TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
$ 42,692 $ 97,303 $ 139,995
• NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES • $ 324,942 Deferred gift liabilities Assets held for others $ 25,490,606 TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES $ 25,815,548
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$ 25,955,543
———————————————— • NET ASSETS WITHOUT DONOR RESTRICTIONS • $ 10,865,344 Board designated endowment Undesignated $ 2,304,435 TOTAL NET ASSETS WITHOUT $ 13,169,779 DONOR RESTRICTIONS
| financial statement
• NET ASSETS WITH DONOR RESTRICTIONS • Purpose restrictions $ 35,728,965 $ 33,721,553 Perpetual in nature
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TOTAL NET ASSETS WITH DONOR RESTRICTIONS
TOTAL NET ASSETS
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
$ 69,450,518
$ 82,620,297
$ 108,575,840
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES David T. McFaddin, ’99 ’15 University President Richmond, KY Troy Ellis, ’87 Board Chair Ann Arbor, MI Deborah Alexander, ’77 Lexington, KY Maribeth Berman, ’92 Louisville, KY Paul Chellgren Covington, KY Robert Click, ’73 Columbus, OH Melissa Combs, ’00 Lexington, KY Lewis Diaz, ’00 ’02 Board of Regents Chair Cincinnati, OH Matt Evans, ’91 Vice Chair Lexington, KY Suzanne P. Fawbush, ’83 Secretary New York, NY Amy Jo Gabel, ’05 Alumni Board President Smyrna, TN
Betina Gardner Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement; Executive Director of EKU Foundation Richmond, KY Jim Guice, ’11 Coral Springs, FL Jeri Isbell, ’79 Naples, FL Richard Mattingly, ’78 Potomac, MD Mary Ousley, ’74 ’86 Richmond, KY Andrew Page, ’92 Raleigh, NC April Perry, ’86 ’96 Ashland, KY Barry Poynter, ’92 Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration; Treasurer of EKU Foundation Richmond, KY William Reddick, ’87 Marietta, GA John Wade Richmond, KY Donald Whitaker, ’62 Muncie, IN
foundation board |
Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over), race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, ethnicity, disability, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information in the admission to, or participation in, any educational program or activity (e.g., athletics, academics and housing) which it conducts, or in any employment policy or practice. Any complaint arising by reason of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Jones Building, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102, (859) 622-8020 or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. 20202 1-800-421-3481 (V), 1-800-877-8339 (TDD). 2021_Foundation Report_MT13_PRINT
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HELP US CHANGE LIVES
Drs. S.M. and Judith A. Mills and James Mills Endowed Scholarship recipient WYNTER BAILEY, ’25
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR; EKU HONORS PROGRAM
“
Your ongoing support of Eastern Kentucky University will help change lives and livelihoods. Entire families and communities benefit from the education received by Eastern’s students, and you can be a part of this transformation with your annual gift to EKU. Whether you support a scholarship, EKU Athletics, a departmental fund, or any other EKU initiative, you are helping to make education more affordable and opportunities more abundant for students like Wynter, Justin, Carthon, Mireya, and Colleen.
HOW TO GIVE You can help change lives at EKU with a gift or new pledge. Please use the included envelope to make a gift through the mail or visit go.eku.edu/give to make a gift by debit or credit card. If you want more information about establishing a named scholarship or need instructions for specialized gift options, such as naming EKU in your will or gifts of real estate and stock, please contact us at:
859-622-GIVE (859-622-4483) OR GIVING@EKU.EDU
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From the moment I toured EKU almost a year ago, I knew I’d found my home. From the size of the campus to the sense of community and the strong educational foundation, EKU is perfect for me.
”
Jack and Martha Luy Endowed Scholarship in Baccalaureate Nursing Recipient JUSTIN TRUAX, ’22 NURSING MAJOR
“
This scholarship relieves a financial burden, and I can truly focus on my education without worrying about the financial side of things. I eventually want to work in the emergency department in a hospital. From here, I will put all of the knowledge I have learned from Eastern Kentucky University to save others’ lives.
”
Karyn Kuhn Yates Non-Endowed Memorial Scholarship recipient CARTHON BROWN, ’25 AVIATION FLIGHT MAJOR
REDNOUR FAMILY endowment Recipient
COLLEEN STEVENS, ’22 DEAF EDUCATION MAJOR
“
EKU’s beautiful atmosphere and the hospitality I received on my campus tour was a major factor in my decision to attend this wonderful school. I felt welcomed and life was vibrant upon arrival, and that’s when I knew this is the place where I can succeed at anything I put my mind to.
”
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Because of how long it has taken to return to school at the age of 25 with a 4-year-old, my four-year degree will take over five years. This has depleted my grants and student loans. But because of you and others, I will have enough to finish my degree and close this chapter of my life. Thank you so much! I will leave EKU at 30 years old, married, with two children, and a bachelor’s of science degree in deaf education.
”
KEMI Diversity Scholarship recipient MIREYA DEL REAL GIL, ’24
RISK MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE STUDIES MAJOR
“
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leadership updateS |
Growing up, I couldn’t complete high school because of the need to work, but after moving to the United States and getting married, my husband encouraged me to get my GED and continue my education...The KEMI Diversity Scholarship has been a blessing for me and my family. This scholarship will really help avoid the debt that can come with higher education.
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@EKUalums
EKU Alumni & Friends
development.eku.edu OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT CPO 19A Eastern Kentucky University 521 Lancaster Avenue Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102
Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Permit #1 Lexington, KY