Carrie Lewis, director of research and prospect management at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), and her husband, John Lewis, a pharmacist, are establishing a new scholarship to support EKU Aviation students. The couple made their inaugural gift to the John H. and Carrie A. Lewis Aviation Scholarship today—on EKU’s Giving Day.
“Our dedicated employees serve and support students day in and day out at EKU. Carrie has gone above and beyond by establishing this scholarship with her husband, John,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “The hard work of our Development and Alumni team, which Carrie is an integral part of, is evident today for Giving Day. I am incredibly grateful for Carrie and John’s generous support and the devotion Carrie puts into her work every day for EKU and our students.”
Carrie has worked in the Development and Alumni Engagement Office for nine years, supporting gift officers behind the scenes. In her role, she often hears stories from alumni who give back to the university. She also sees firsthand how scholarships impact EKU students and feels passionate about helping them in her own way.
The Lewises have committed to a “five-over-five” pledge, contributing $5,000 annually on EKU’s Giving Day for the next five years to fully endow the scholarship at $25,000. Through her role at the university, Carrie said she learned that donors can spread out their payments over time, making it more manageable to establish an endowed fund scholarship.
EKU is home to the only four-year aviation degree program in Kentucky, making aviation one of the university’s top-enrolled degree programs. Carrie wanted to help provide scholarship support for this unique opportunity for generations of EKU students to come.
“I know that the aviation program is starting to really take off,” she said. EKU Aviation continues to elevate the university’s mission as the School of Opportunity, recently breaking ground on a new flight training center and launching pilot pathway partnerships.
“I’ve always thought it was positive,” said John, about the opportunity to provide a scholarship to students. “I grew up in Grayson, Kentucky, where there were kids who didn’t have a lot of the opportunities that I did. Having the ability to come to school with scholarships was a huge deal.”
Carrie added, “We want our support to help students, but we also hope that it inspires others to do the same, in any way that they can. No matter how much you are able to give, a large or small gift makes an impact for students at EKU.”
Today, on Giving Day, the entire EKU community comes together to support students. This year’s goal is 2,425 donors. Watch progress toward the goal and make a gift at go.eku.edu/givingday.
Those interested in creating a scholarship should reach out to EKU’s Senior Director of Major and Planned Gifts, Shelley Ward, at shelley.ward@eku.edu.
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