Be Bold Campaign Donor Impact

We want to recognize and thank all of our campaign donors!
If you would like your giving story featured on our website, please contact us at msu.giving@murraystate.edu.

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

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 with Dr. Jackson

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

Patricia L. Summerville (‘72) and printmaking students

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)

College of Business professors cut ribbon

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

Capt. Robert C. Cherry, Jr. (’90) will check for biology department

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

Busby shows students how to use equipment

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)

Accounting faculty and Development staff

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 with Ashley Ireland and Abby Hensley

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.

David (‘78) and Susan Beeny with new presidential scholars and Dr. Jackson

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.

Be Bold: Forever Blue & Gold Donor Impact

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