Eastern Kentucky University Impact Report 2019-20

IMPACT REPORT

EKU ANNUAL GIVING 2019-20

Dear Salutation:

This past year has certainly had its highs and lows. At Eastern Kentucky University, we ended the academic year much differently than anyone could have imagined when we began last August. Our students bravely transitioned to remote learning in March amid the COVID-19 pandemic. At the semester’s conclusion in May, our virtual graduation ceremony felt like the big win at the end of a race. We want to share this win with you. As a donor to EKU, you truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

During this time of uncertainty, we are grateful for your unwavering support. When we announced the creation of the new Student Assistance Fund for Eastern (SAFE) back in April, nearly 600 of you stepped up to fund the immediate needs of Eastern’s students. From housing to medical bills to transportation, your generosity helped relieve challenges that were barriers to academic success and personal security.

All annual gifts to EKU are critical to our mission. Donors who give year after year provide sustained scholarship dollars, services, resources, and opportunities for students. The University will now be recognizing those of you who give consecutively through the new Milestone Society, an elite donor society that celebrates those who make a gift to EKU two or more years in a row. EKU’s milestones—our significant moments—are made possible by our most loyal donors, who stand with us through their annual support. You made a gift during EKU’s fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019June 30, 2020) and if you give again before June 30, 2021, you will be among our inaugural Milestone Society members.

In this report, we highlight just a few of the hundreds of donor-supported funds across the University. I hope you read these statistics and impact stories and see the difference you have helped to make. Your support has allowed us to continue our mission of being a school of opportunity, in person, virtually, and everywhere.

Thank you for your generosity and dedication,

Betina Gardner Vice President for Development & Alumni Engagement

These funds were supported by the largest number of donors in FY20. Donors to the Eastern Fund provided flexible funding to meet EKU’s greatest needs through programs and initiatives that benefit the entire campus community, such as infrastructural improvements. Gifts made to college greatest needs funds made possible professional development opportunities for students, technologies and learning resources for classrooms, and research stipends for faculty. The Student Assistance Fund for Eastern (SAFE) served the immediate needs of students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IMPACT STORIES

Student Assistance Fund for Eastern

The Student Assistance Fund for Eastern (SAFE) launched in early spring 2020 to help students with immediate, essential expenses caused by an unexpected emergency or crisis situation. The timing of SAFE’s creation helped to alleviate an increasing number of student needs precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred fifty students have received funding so far to help with emergencies ranging from medical bills to transportation expenses.

“The journey I am on is never easy as it is but when we were hit with the COVID-19 pandemic my journey became even more complicated. My work study hours were already low due to taking a week off to have surgery before the pandemic. Pay from work study is what helps keep my bills paid and diapers bought. After the pandemic began and everything shut down, I found myself having to struggle with the decision to either pay for my electric and internet or buy diapers and essentials. I could not do all of it at that time and hours for work study were still being worked out so I did not know when the next time I would get paid would even be. Thanks to the emergency fund provided by you I no longer had to choose. I hope that after reading this you realize the huge positive impact your donation made on myself and my children! I will forever be grateful for your act of kindness during such a hard time.”

“With the $100 I received, I was able to purchase the necessary art supplies I needed to continue my studio classes at home.”

“The funds have helped immensely with general living expenses such as food and gasoline. I also plan to use the funds to help offset the cost of an upcoming flight exam with EKU.”

“I used the funding to help pay for my medicine and medical expenses. I also used it to cover transportation expenses to and from my appointments and for groceries. This helped me with my problems and I am extremely grateful.”

“The donors to this fund have no idea how much they helped me, which included helping to pay a security deposit and first month’s rent for an apartment in Richmond. The donors to this fund helped me transition during this uncertain time due to their selflessness and compassion.”

- Student Assistance Fund for Eastern recipients

Eyouel Mekonnen University General Scholarship Fund Recipient

Supporting the University General Scholarship fund at EKU has a massive reach. Helping students pay for tuition is a gift that lasts beyond graduation day. Every milestone these students achieve, every life that they enhance, will experience a ripple effect that will continue to make our community and our world a better place.

One such student who received an award from the University General Scholarship Fund, Eyouel Mekonnen, has set his goals beyond graduation very high. “I hope to take what I have learned here and continue the culture of philanthropy that has been bestowed upon me by EKU and our donors,” said Mekonnen, '20. “My big plan is to one day become the Minister of Education in my home country of Ethiopia and ensure that every child has access to education.”

Whitney Johns College of Education

We never really know how our gifts can be used to support someone in one of their greatest times of need. For Whitney Johns, one of our students from the College of Education, receiving financial aid through donor support came at the perfect time.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you! After losing my dad to stage four cancer at the end of my freshman year at EKU, I knew that the financial burden of going back to school was going to be hard on my mom, who was now financially all on her own. But shortly after my dad passed away, I received a letter in the mail stating that I had been selected to receive scholarships from EKU. Receiving scholarships has allowed me to continue pursuing my degree in Elementary Education and has taken financial burden off of my mom. Your funding has afforded me the opportunity to follow not only my dreams, but my dad’s dreams.” - Whitney Johns, '20

Promoting Ethics Awareness

College of Business and Technology

Through the College of Business and Technology Greatest Needs Fund, the College provided 26 students a Student Ethics Certification Program scholarship and hosted Ethics Awareness Week. The purpose of this week was to better integrate ethics and social responsibility in the EKU School of Business curriculum and provide students opportunities to discuss ethics and social responsibility through various interactive activities, writings, and case studies.

Dr. Trish Isaacs, Associate Dean, stated that “We seek, in the School of Business, to prepare students not only with the technical skills and abilities they need in their chosen profession, but also to prepare them to be good corporate citizens and make sound ethical decisions. Ethics Awareness Week provided many opportunities for our students to confront themselves and consider ethical challenges they will face in the future.”

The College of Business and Technology Greatest Needs Fund also awarded stipends to our faculty to conduct research, which enhances both individual faculty members and the educational experience of students. Offering research stipends is one of the many ways the College is able to recruit and retain high quality faculty members that enhance EKU programs.

Ashley Shofner

College of Health Sciences

Giving to the College of Health Sciences supports students like Ashley Shofner, a senior Public Health major from Bardstown, Kentucky. Ashley is the first member of her family to pursue higher education and she is an all-star on campus. She serves as the College of Health Sciences Ambassador, the President of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, a member of the EKU Honors Program, and a current Admissions Recruitment Ambassador.

“As a first-generation student, I was not sure if my future held a college education. One of the reasons I decided to pursue my education at EKU was because I was confident that this ‘school of opportunity’ would invest in me and my future,” said Shofner, '21. “Without the generosity of Eastern alumni and friends, I would not be here today. For this, I am eternally grateful.”

Joy Girgis

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

“Thank you for your generous donations. I am so appreciative because it has allowed me to pursue my academic and career passion of public service and political activism.” - Joy Girgis, '20.

Joy Girgis recently participated in the first virtual graduation ceremony EKU has ever hosted as a member of the class of 2020. Generous gifts provided two academic scholarships that helped Joy pursue a Political Science degree through the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. A decreased financial burden has given her the opportunity to continue her education. Joy is now working on her Master’s degree in Public Administration with a social justice focus at the University of Cincinnati.

Curriculum Support

College of Justice and Safety

As the entire world has experienced, COVID-19 has brought significant challenges to all areas of life. At EKU, individual departments have faced budget restrictions. With tightened budgets came the issue of suspending online resource subscriptions for the Fire Protection and Safety Program students. Thanks to the College of Justice and Safety Development Fund, the faculty were able to continue offering vital subscriptions free of charge for their students.

“The National Fire Protection Association and International Code Council subscription services are heavily ingrained in our curriculum,” said Dr. Bill Hicks, Chair of the Department of Fire Protection and Paramedicine Sciences and EKU professor. “These codes represent the predominant source of fire and life safety codes that are enforced by adoption as law in nearly all jurisdictions, states, and territories across the United States. Our students must have a working, practiced knowledge of the codes that are provided by these subscriptions. We are so thankful that donor dollars could fill this gap and help us continue our programs of excellence.”

Kaitlin Bargo College of Science

Education is made more affordable and dreams more achievable for students like Kaitlin Bargo thanks to donor-supported scholarships. Kaitlin, a scholarship recipient in the College of Science, has developed important professional connections while at EKU. For Kaitlin, these connections will help her achieve her goal of becoming a pharmacist. Membership in Alpha Omicron Pi has afforded her the opportunity to connect with job opportunities in local pharmacies. Kaitlin is grateful for the professional experience she has gained prior to graduation and the impact of donor support on her EKU experience.

“I am from a small coal town in Kentucky which makes it hard for me, along with other students, to attend college. This generous donation has allowed me to continue my education at EKU to follow my dream of becoming a pharmacist.” -Kaitlin Bargo, '22

Jomaru Brown

EKU Athletics

EKU Athletics acts as a common connection for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community. Our athletics department supports sixteen sports teams and invests in the academic and professional futures of 326 student-athletes. Gifts to EKU Athletics directly impact the lives of every student-athlete. Jomaru Brown, EKU Men’s Basketball team member from Raleigh, North Carolina, is one of many students who have been supported through scholarships.

“The scholarship I was awarded is so special to me. Where I come from, not a lot of people reach their dream of playing Division I Basketball,” said Brown, '22. “My scholarship helped make my dream a reality and gave me the opportunity to play for great coaches.”

VETS Center

Office of Military & Veterans Affairs

EKU has a long history of being a leader in supporting veterans and militaryconnected students, consistently ranking in the top 10% nationally and number one in Kentucky as “Best for Vets.” This year, the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs (OMVA) services were taken to a new level with their relocation to the Powell Student Center. The relocation includes the establishment of the VETS (Veteran Education and Transition Support) Center in the Jaggers Room, which includes lounge furniture, a hospitality station, computer stations, a large projection screen, group workspaces, and a customer service desk. According to OMVA Director and Army veteran, Barbara Kent ('17, '19), this could not have happened without donor support.

“The generous support of donors has enabled us to create a space for our veteran and military students where they can socialize, engage with their peers, study, receive services as well as participate in events,” said Kent. “This will be transformational in our ability to develop programming and initiatives targeted towards the transition, retention, and graduation of our students. We cannot thank our donors enough for their support of our veteran and military students.”