Gifts to university created through
estate plans
MURFREESBORO — For
MTSU senior Michelle Kelley of Murfreesboro, receiving the university’s
prestigious Buchanan Fellowship opened up the world to her by providing
opportunities to travel abroad.
The
Siegel High School graduate credits the Buchanan, which is the university’s
highest award, and other available scholarships with giving her the freedom to
concentrate on academics. That’s important for a physics major who’s also
juggling minors in mathematics and aerospace.
“These
past four years I have been able to focus solely on my education and take
advantage of every opportunity,” Kelley told those attending the fourth annual
1911 Society Luncheon held recently at the MT Center on Middle Tennessee
Boulevard.
Kelley
joined other high-achieving scholars from across the university along with
development officers, several MTSU deans and other top administrators in
thanking the newest members of the 1911 Society, which celebrates individuals
and families who have created gifts to the university through their estate
plans.
A trip
to the Czech Republic two years ago is now a memorable part of Kelley’s journey
toward a December graduation and graduate school next year. An upcoming summer
trip to Germany for her honors thesis will add to those memories. Not bad for
someone who hadn’t previously traveled outside the Southeast.
“Your
funding has opened up the entire world to me,” said Kelley, whose grandfather
and uncle are alumni as well as an older sister who is now pursuing her
master’s degree and a younger sister finishing up her freshman year at MTSU.
In
thanking the donors for their commitment, MTSU Director of Development Pat
Branam noted that there were now 183 members of the 1911 Society, which is
named in honor of MTSU’s founding year. New members receive a framed rendering
of Kirksey Old Main.
This
year’s new members included Joni K. and William K. Burke; Frederic M. Crawford;
Emily P. and Dale Ellis; Robert A. Frazier; Mary Belle Ginanni; Mark and Sheila
King; Helen W. Reed; and Dan and Margaret Scott.
Also
recognized at the April 22 luncheon were members of the Signal Society, which
honors annual donors who have supported the university in 20 or more years.
This group is named for Middle Tennessee Normal School’s first newspaper/magazine,
The Signal, which was originally published in 1912. New Signal donors receive
an engraved medallion reflecting their years of support.
Signal
Society members recognized at this year’s luncheon for 40-plus years of giving
were Tommy H. and Milbrey Campbell; Karen Caton; Edward Chappell Jr.; George
and Lynn Claxton; Robert and Janice Garrigus; and Sam and Lynette Ingram. And
recognized for 50 years of giving were R. Norman and Barbara Martin.
In his
welcoming remarks, Joe Bales, vice president for university advancement,
thanked donors for their help with the record $105 million-plus Centennial
Campaign fundraising drive that will allow the university to continue upgrading
facilities and infrastructure, attract top faculty and provide the funding
support students need to earn their degrees.
“Great
students — that’s what this institution is about,” Bales said. “You are helping
truly transform MTSU into Tennessee’s best institution.”
MTSU
senior Sam Hulsey of Lebanon, Tennessee, told the crowd he had just been to
Nashville earlier in the day where he attended a meeting of various advocacy
groups for immigrants that included former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. He then
came back to campus to defend his honors thesis.
It’s all
part of an “unconventional” undergraduate education for the global studies and
Spanish major that included an honors transfer fellowship Hulsey received his
first year on campus that paved the way to other successes and some “wow”
opportunities, he said.
Such
financial support for students is especially important at a public university
like MTSU, he said, since many students must work part-time or full-time jobs
in order to pay for their educations.
The
transfer fellowship “allowed me to concentrate my efforts in scholarly pursuits,”
said Hulsey, noting his opportunity to study in three different countries,
study four different languages and pursue a five-month internship in Peru.
“This
funding changes lives,” he said. “It opens up a lot of doors.”
For more
information about becoming an MTSU donor, go to www.mtsu.edu/development and click on the
“ways to give” tab.
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