Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton, Murray State University alumna and president of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland , is paving the way for future MSU minority students. Thornton recently established the Jerry Sue Thornton and

John Barlow Pritchett Minority Scholarship in memory of her late brother. John or “Buddy” as he was known, died suddenly of a brain aneurism while attending Murray State in 1970.

Natives of Dawson Springs , Ky. , Jerry Sue and John later moved to Earlington , Ky. , where they graduated from high school. John was an ambitious business student at MSU with a promising future ahead of him.

Thornton earned her bachelor of arts degree from Murray State in 1969 and master’s degree in communications in 1970. In 1983 she received her Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas . MSU honored Thornton in 1987 with the Murray State University Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Thornton understands the impact scholarships have on a student’s life. As an African American woman and president of the largest community college in Ohio , she is a living example of the value of an education.

“Scholarships are important because they enable access to higher education and a better quality of life,” says Thornton . “Our scholarship fund says ‘thanks’ to MSU.  Murray State University provided an outstanding education to my brother, Buddy, and myself. Giving back is one way to demonstrate appreciation.”

Thornton wishes to memorialize John’s determination and spirit by assisting other minority students in obtaining a quality education. Recipients of the scholarship must be minority students from Kentucky with a minimum 3.0 grade point average. For more information on this scholarship, contact the MSU Scholarship Office at 270-809-3225 or 800-272-4678 ext. 4.