Advancement News and Updates

ADVANCEMENT Updates

Over the last two years, TWU has been blessed with estate gifts from The Christensen Family Revocable Trust, the H. Kathleen Walker Estate, Beulah Roberts Trust, and Bettie Bragg Estate. The impact of these estates will help TWU further our mission of providing students with the highest quality educational experience for many years to come.

Support for Tennessee Wesleyan University comes in many forms and sizes, from small gifts to large estates. Estate gifts range from $1,000 to larger sums, but one thing remains true, a gift of any size makes a life-changing impact on the students of TWU, both our current Bulldogs and generations of future Bulldogs.

One of the most flexible giving tools is the designation of a bequest in your last will and testament. A bequest can be specific, naming an exact dollar amount or item(s) you wish to leave to the University. A residual bequest can be less specific and include a percentage of your estate after any expenses and other specific bequest items are fulfilled. Finally, a bequest could be contingent upon other circumstances, such as another beneficiary predeceasing you. Working with your attorney, the bequest could include gifts of cash, securities or real estate, or any combination of the above.

We encourage our alumni to reflect on their time at TWU, the memories that were made, and friendships that have lasted decades. Those same memories are being made today with our current students and will continue to be made for future generations.

The Advancement Office would be honored to discuss opportunities if an estate bequest would help achieve your philanthropic goals. ELDA MCSPADDEN WALKER SCHOLARSHIP

Athens native Lem McSpadden’s parents owned McSpadden Furniture Company, located in the current Miller Hall, home to TWU’s Dental Hygiene program and residence hall. Lem was greatly influenced by his Aunt, Elda McSpadden Walker, a 1933 Tennessee Wesleyan graduate. Lem, and his wife, Donna, endowed a scholarship in her memory for students in the Dental Hygiene program.

GRACE KEITH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

Longtime friend and neighbor, Jeri Arledge, created the Grace Keith Annual Scholarship to memorialize their years of friendship. Gracie coached at Hixson High School (1959-1972) and UTC (1974-1976) and accumulated many accolades, including the first female inducted in the TWU Athletic Hall of Fame (1985), UTC Hall of Fame (2015), Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame Betty Probasco Lifetime Achievement Award and won Senior Olympic medals in basketball, volleyball and softball.

THE TED AND DRAMA RUSSELL FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Organic Chemistry Lab in Fisher Hall is receiving a much-needed renovation, thanks to the support of the Ted and Drama Russell Family Foundation. Their gift is are providing new countertops and components, and the total renovation will include new sinks, fresh paint, new flooring and other improvements.

BULLDOG INVESTMENT CLUB

The Bulldog Investment Club is a student-led organization, under the careful direction of business faculty, learning investing principles through actual funds contributed by Ric and BJ Galberaith. Students make investments and watch how the market impacts them in real time. Their investments have seen significant growth.

L. CECIL ROBERTS AND BEULAH W. ROBERTS SCHOLARSHIP

The Roberts Scholarship fund was established to provide financial support to students from Loudon County and southeast Tennessee pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene. Originally established at Hiwassee College, this fund was transferred to TWU in Fall 2021 and will continue to benefit students. DRS. WILLIAM AND NANCY FISHER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Dr. Nancy Fisher, an English professor at TWU from 1991-2010, and her husband, William, included a provision in their estate plan to endow a scholarship to provide scholarships to students majoring in English with preference to students pursuing journalism.

LAWRENCE CONCERT SERIES

Dr. Dale Lawrence’s gift in memory of his aunt, Edythe Vyvian Smalley, a student at the Athens School of the University of Chattanooga (now TWU), established a concert series to honor her young life cut short by the 1919 influenza epidemic. Dr. Lawrence’s career was inspired by her and he became a noted epidemiologist working for the CDC and NIH.

DR. DANNY FISHER FUND

The Dr. Danny Fisher Memorial Fund was established by family and friends of the late Dan Fisher to assist students majoring in Business Administration. Dr. Fisher spent his career working in business and industry and later teaching business students at TWU. The fund will be used meet the cost of attendance needs for a deserving student annually in Business Administration, with preference to international or entrepreneurial student needs.