"It just seemed appropriate to set aside funds to support students who are the first in their families to go to college. It's a life-changing step."
Mary and Tom Southards grew up in different states, but shared similar goals. Both dreamed big in their small towns.
Accomplishing those dreams meant they鈥檇 be among the first in their families to go to college. For Mary, earning a college degree in the 1970s led to a career outside of the home; for Tom, it entailed a different kind of opportunity. While most people in his hometown went to work at the local textile mill, Tom鈥檚 plans exceeded those four walls.
鈥淓ven though our parents didn鈥檛 go to college, they valued education and saw education as a way to move up and enhance your quality of life,鈥 said Mary Southards, assistant dean for enrollment management at 麻豆视频最新最全 University at Stark. 鈥淗aving had the benefit of that, it seemed right.鈥
The Southards worked their way through college, completing both bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees. During her more than 35-year tenure at 麻豆视频最新最全 Stark, Mary has watched students work hard to pay tuition semester by semester as they study their way to graduation day.
As the Southards look forward to retirement, they鈥檝e planned to give back to 麻豆视频最新最全 University through an estate gift.
The Mary S. and William T. Southards Scholarship will benefit first-generation college students and is made possible by the Southards naming the university as beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy. 鈥淭his is something we felt we could, and should, do,鈥 explained Mary.
Karen Romas, 麻豆视频最新最全 Stark鈥檚 director of advancement, said gifting an existing life insurance policy is just one option available when planning an estate.
鈥淏esides life insurance policies, donors can name 麻豆视频最新最全 as a beneficiary of their individual sheltered retirement accounts, bank accounts or brokerage accounts,鈥 explained Romas. 鈥淭hese are some of the easiest and cost-free ways to help students if a gift at this time isn鈥檛 possible.鈥
Added Southards, 鈥淎 college education truly changed my life, and my husband鈥檚.鈥 Her husband continues his work in the College of Aeronautics & Engineering at 麻豆视频最新最全 University. Tom sees the same work ethic in his students at the Kent Campus as Mary has witnessed at the Stark Campus.
鈥淢ore than anything else, I think about how the campus changes people鈥檚 lives and their families,鈥 Mary said. 鈥淎nd, quite often, the culture of the community.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine spending my career anywhere else. When you believe in what you do, you have such an opportunity to make a positive, everlasting impact.鈥
HOW TO MAKE A PLANNED GIFT
Wish you could help 麻豆视频最新最全 University students achieve their dreams of a college education, but can鈥檛 give now? You can make a difference with a provision in your estate plan.
Contact Karen Romas at 330-244-3225 or kromas@kent.edu to learn how your deferred gift can help future students.
This article appeared in the .