National Pan-Hellenic Council Plaza Constructed on Campus
Donors: Over 350 individuals and groups have contributed to this project since its inception in 2021 totaling $66,000 in gifts, in addition to a $70,000 contribution from the University
Donor Impact
Alumni Couple’s Endowment Helps Bring Thousands of High School Students to Campus
Donors: Joe (‘65) and Karen (‘83) Owen
Anonymous gift makes transformational impact on music program
Anonymous Murray State alum
After Lifetime of Service, Beloved Professor Robert “Doc” McGaughey Leaves Lasting Legacy
Donors: The Estate of Dr. Robert H. “Doc” McGaughey
Long-Time Supporters of Music at MSU Bestow Major New Support on Racer Band
Donors: Gary and Barbara Morgan
2002 Distinguished Alumna Lana Porter Invests in Cyber Program and So Much More
Donors: Lana Porter (‘65, ‘72)
Dr. Gene Wells Ray Culminates Lifetime of Giving with Major Commitment to Racer Basketball
Donors: Dr. Gene Wells Ray (‘60) and Mrs. Taffin Ray, through the Gene and Taffin Ray Family Foundation
Philanthropy and Leadership Collective Launches at Murray State
Donors: Founding Members: Whitney Bechtel, ’06, Nancy Becker, ’63, Dr. Tina Bernot,’14, ’21, Wanda Bigham, ’56, Dr. Susana Bloomdahl, Melanie Brooks, ’92, ’93, Dr. Dina Byers, ’99, ’04, Kala Dunn, ’10, ’17, Cris Ferguson, Dr. Claire Fuller, Kathy Harris, ’80, Abby Hensley, ’07, ’08, Deborah Hulse, Ashley Ireland, ’05, Karen Jackson, ’84, Carrie McGinnis, ’96, ’20, Nikki Murphy, ’02, Lana Porter, ’65, ’72
Swift & Staley, led by Murray State Board of Regents Chair Leon Owens, shows unwavering and multifaceted support for students
Donors: Swift & Staley, Inc., of Paducah, Kentucky, led by company President and Murray State Board of Regents Chair Leon Owens, ’14
2025 distinguished alumna memorializes her mom, who taught nursing at Murray State for 24 years
Donors: Kelli, ’90, ’91, and Scott Parsons
Nursing Graduate and Retired Army Colonel Helps Students Follow in Her Footsteps
Donors: COL Lucretia McClenney (Ret)
Alumnus and Avid Racer Fan “Jim Bob” Kevil Leaves Transformational Gift to Racer Athletics
Donors: The estate of James R. “Jim Bob” Kevil
Supporting the Free Press by Supporting Student Journalism
Donors: Bonnie Koblitz
Western Kentucky Area Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter Establishes Scholarship
Donors: Members of the Western Kentucky Area Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter, spearheaded by Mrs. Jan Yonts (’71, ’74)
Family and Friends of Chief Deputy Jody Cash Establish Scholarship in His Memory
Donors: Family and Friends of Chief Deputy Jody Cash
Dr. Jesse D. Jones bestows even more generosity upon Murray State
Donors: Dr. Jesse D. Jones, ’64
Lifelong Public Servants Ensure Quality Leadership for Nonprofit Leadership Studies
Donors: Dr. Robert F. Long, Jr. and Mrs. Patricia Mendez-Long
Murray State University Foundation Makes Gift to Replace Seats in Lovett Auditorium
Donors: Murray State University Foundation, Inc., as voted by its Board of Trustees on April 17, 2021
Murray State dedicates “Logan Hall of Biology” to recognize family’s exceptional support for science education
Donors: Dr. Thomas B. Logan, MD, ’61, Mrs. Jo Lloyd Logan, ’62, and family
First-generation alumni couple give back to today’s first-gen agriculture students
Donors: Mr. Doug, ’93, & Mrs. Stacey, ’94, ’00, Lawson and family
First-Generation Business Alum Gives Back to Today’s Business Students
Donors: Tommy Lewis (’86)
Family of Beloved Former Baseball Coach Gives Back to Student-Athletes
Donors: The family of former Murray State Hall of Famer and Men’s Baseball Coach Johnny Reagan (‘48, ‘56)
First Black Miss MSU Gives Back After Exceptional Career in Higher Education
Donors: Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton ('69, '71)
Tosh Farms Gifts the Funding, Materials, and Labor to Build New Agricultural Learning Lab
Donors: Tosh Farms of Henry, Tennessee
Former Board of Regents Chair Dr. Don Tharpe Commits Planned Gift to Murray State
Donors: Dr. Don (‘74, ‘75) and Mrs. Linda (‘74) Tharpe
Pat Summerville, Lifelong Supporter of the Arts at Murray State, Cements Legacy of Giving with Estate Gift
Donors: Patricia L. Summerville (‘72)
Alumni Couple Who Were First in Their Families to Graduate College Assist Other First-Gen Students
Donors: Travis Taylor (’11) and Dr. Kelly Taylor (’11)
Mark Workman Builds Successful Engineering Company and Gives Back to MSU
Donors: Mark (‘92) and Kelly (‘92, ‘98, ‘15) Workman and Bacon Farmer Workman (BFW) and Marcum Engineering, the company that Mark co-owns
Children and grandchildren of Marvin “M.O.” Wrather continue to give back to Murray State
Donors: Rebecca Hoke Zion, Justin Zion, and family of Charles and Anne Hoke (daughter of Dr. Marvin “M.O.” Wrather)
Long-time scholarship donors steeply increase support for students
Donors: James, ’66, and Patricia, ’66, Wilson
New Scholarship Memorializes Beloved Evansville Speech-Language Pathologist
Donors: Steve Vandergriff, Beth Easterling (’89 ’92), Laura Notich, Melissa Hacker, and other family and friends of Leah Vandergriff
Golden reunion reflections motivate alumni couple to make planned gift
Donors: Retired Colonels William “Bill” M., ’74, and Barbara E. Wilder, ’75
History Faculty Benefit from Increased Support for Research
Donors: Murray State Professor Emeritus of History Terry Strieter and wife Sara Fineman (82, ‘87)
Jerry and Betsy Shroat: “MSU Is Woven Into the Fabric of Our Lives”
Donors: Jerry (‘63) and Betsy (‘63) Shroat
Alumni Couple Bolsters Support for the Office of Student Disability Services
Donors: Jason (‘08) and Leigh Ann (‘97, ‘99) Siener
MSU Business Alumna Makes Major Commitment in Support of First-Generation Student Scholarships
Donors: Mrs. (Helen) Suzanne Shelton (‘80) and her husband Mr. Michael Sump
New Scholarship to Recognize Students of High Moral Character
Donors: Dr. Eugene and Mrs. Priscilla Schanbacher
Biology Alumna Leaves Legacy Gift to Benefit Today’s Biology Students
Donors: The Estate of Doris Wood Seney (‘69)
Former Engineering Technology Professor’s Daughter Provides Extraordinary Full-Ride Scholarships for Students
Donors: Karen Jones Squires (’78) and James Squires
Hopkinsville Couple Donates Truckload of Chemistry Lab Equipment
Donors: Matthew and Brooke Stine
CHFA Alum Enables Today’s Psychology Students to Present at Annual Research Conference
Donors: Derek Somerville (‘98)
2015 Graduate Creates Scholarship for Fellow Esports Enthusiasts
Donors: Austin Smock ('15)
United Systems and Software Provides Hands-On Learning Space for Computer Science Students
Donors: United Systems & Software, Inc. (USS), led by CEO and Murray State alumnus Scott Waldrop (’88)
Former Nursing Student Leaves a Lasting Legacy at Murray State
Donors: The estate of the late Jessie Munday Jackson (‘61)
CFSB continues decades of support of Racer Athletics with new $2 million gift
Donors: Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) of Benton, Kentucky
Hancock Biological Station Receives Unprecedented Support from Retired Merchant Marine Captain Robert Cherry Jr.
Donors: Capt. Robert C. Cherry, Jr. (’90)
Paducah Couple Leaves Major Estate Gift in Support of Miller Memorial Golf Course and More
Donors: Jim (‘63) and Sue (‘64) Cash
Professional Photographer Donates Digital Photographic Equipment for Students
Donors: John David Busby
Western Kentucky Natives Assist Students from their Childhood Home Towns
Donors: Michael (‘75) and Jane Ann Cain
Lifelong Friendship Begun at Murray State Inspires Memorial Scholarship
Donors: Lt Col Wendy S. Collins, USAF, Nurse Corps (Ret) (’71), and family and friends of Geneva Lee Jackson Cooper (’71, ’77)
Financial Services Company ATA CPAs + Advisors Supports MSU Accounting Students
Donors: ATA CPAs + Advisors PLLC
First endowed professorship in Engineering Physics to honor former Dean Steve Cobb
Donors: Lead gifts from Rex Geveden, ’83, ’84, and Cindy Griner, ’82; other gifts from alumni and friends and family of Dr. Steve Cobb
Ron and Ann Churchill Leave Estate Gift to Benefit Libraries and Local Students
Donors: Ron (‘53) and Ann (‘54) Churchill, through the Estate of Ron Churchill Jr.
First endowed professorship in Construction Management established
Donors: Lead gift from the Western Kentucky chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC); other gifts from alumni, AGC members, and friends and family of Dr. Danny Claiborne
Juniors and Seniors of All Majors Can Take Advantage of New Scholarship
Donors: Steve (’78) and Sherry (’76, ’79, ’81) Burke
Trailblazing Female Biologist Alumna Gives Back to Today’s Science Students
Donors: The estate of Dr. Beulah Mae “Boots” Ashbrook (‘55)
Badgett family makes new gift to significantly bolster teacher education opportunities
Donors: Family of the late J. Rogers Badgett
Thoroughbred Architects and Engineers Establishes New Student Scholarship
Donors: Thoroughbred Architects and Engineers, a Kentucky owned and operated professional engineering, surveying, architecture, and construction management firm that recently opened a new office in Mayfield, Kentucky
Ag Alumni Celebrate 100 Years of Agriculture at Murray State with New Scholarship
Donors: Hutson School of Agriculture alumni
Doran Family Gift Ensures the Future of the Arboretum
Donors: The Doran Foundation, Inc.
One of Murray State’s First Presidential Scholars Gives Back to Today’s Racers
Donors: David (‘78) and Susan Beeny
After success in the entertainment industry, alumni couple gives back to arts students
Donors: W. Earl, ’86, and Carrie Brown, ’88
A Philanthropic Journey from Murray to “The Big Apple” and Back Home to Murray
Donors: Nancy Gibbs Becker (‘63)
New nursing scholarship memorializes beloved labor and delivery nurse Dana Bazzell
Donors: Family and friends of Dana Bazzell, ’75
2006 alumna memorializes both of her parents with special gifts
Donors: Dr. Brett and Mrs. Whitney Medley Bechtel, ’06
Former football letterman supports long-term vision for the future of Racer Athletics
Donors: Scotty, ’74, ’75, and Debi Crump
First Endowed Professorship in Agricultural Science Established
Donors: The Futrell Family
A record-breaking gift for the Hutson School of Agriculture
Donors: The estate of the late Bill, ’49, and Merry Garrett
Computer Science Alum Creates Scholarship to Help Students Who Have Experienced Hardships
Donors: James E. Forest
Alumnus Arthur Fields Makes Transformational $1.5 Million Gift
Donors: Arthur Fields (‘67, ‘68)
Racer Football Alumni Association Forms to Support Football Student-Athletes
Donors: Racer Football Alumni Association (RFAA), LLC, which is an organization of former Racer players, coaches, supporters and staff dedicated to the improvement of the educational and athletic experience for the Murray State Racer football student-athlete.
Dozens of Students Receive Scholarships Every Year Thanks to Western Kentucky Couple’s Estate Gift
Donors: The Estate of Bill (‘58) and Louise Hatley
Icon of Philanthropy Donna Herndon Bestows Even More Generosity Upon Murray State
Donors: Donna Herndon (’64)
Two Racer Friends Establish Book Scholarship
Donors: Aaron Harris (‘12,’14) and Richard Nelson (‘11)
New Scholarship for Kentucky Students Will Offer $5000 to Multiple Students Every Year
Donors: Paul C. Goodley (’72)
Generous Gift Establishes New Endowed Professorship in Equine Science
Donors: Vernon (‘73) and Cathryn Hamm
Nursing alumna and husband make major gift to fund scholarships for Nursing students
Donors: Mrs. Patti, ‘74, and Dr. Paul Eisenberg
Dairyman’s Supply Company Makes $1 Million Gift to Racer Athletics
Donors: Dairyman’s Supply Company, Inc. based out of Mayfield, Kentucky
Mayfield Family Pays Tribute to Their Mother with Three Student Scholarships
Donors: Family and friends of the late Peggy Anderson Daughaday
Former MSU President Constantine Curris Honors Wife with Emergency Fund for Students
Donors: Dr. Constantine (Deno) Curris and Mrs. Jo Hern Curris
Board of Trustees member and husband pledge extraordinary planned gift
Donors: Melanie Peacock Culver, ’84, and Jay Culver. Melanie joined the Murray State University Foundation Board of Trustees in the fall of 2024. Gift
First-Generation Brother and Sister Alumni Encourage Today’s First-Gen Students
Donors: Trisha Clark Cunningham (’86) and Terry L. Clark (’81)
Family of Nathaniel Durham, who passed away at age 20, creates scholarship in his memory
Donors: Adam Chustz (’99), Dwight Chustz, and other family and friends of Nathaniel Durham
Lifelong love of nature inspires Melissa Easley to create new field research area for students
Donors: Melissa Easley, ’64, ’90
Mayfield natives, now in California, give back to Racer student athletes
Donors: Tommy, ’87, and Sandy, ’87, Draffen
New Esports Arena Created Thanks to Support from DEVsource Technology Solutions
Donors: DEVsource Technology Solutions, Inc.
Racer Athletics receives largest gift in school history from Dill family
Donors: David, ’90, and Ashley, ’89, Dill and family