Athletics, Academics Merge to Launch President's Scholarship Initiative

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2010) – Seeking to provide more Kentucky students with the opportunity to earn a college degree, the University of Kentucky unveiled a major fundraising initiative in front of a packed Rupp Arena crowd following ESPN GameDay Saturday. The President’s Scholarship Initiative – themed “See Blue. Make a Difference” – is designed to ensure a UK education remains accessible to all Kentuckians.

“This project speaks to our commitment to the people of Kentucky,” said UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. “As Kentucky’s flagship, land-grant university, our core mission is to provide a world-class education to students across the Commonwealth. This initiative will help us make sure the doors to this University remain open to all those who deserve the opportunity to receive a UK education.”

UK men’s basketball Coach John Calipari and former UK basketball players helped President Todd launch the scholarship campaign following ESPN’s hit Saturday morning show, College GameDay. Coach Calipari is serving as Co-Chair of the President’s Scholarship Initiative.

“I remind the players all the time that they are not simply here to play basketball,” said Coach Calipari.

“We must use our platform for the greater good – to impact lives and communities across the Commonwealth. As excited and honored as I am to return Kentucky basketball to its rightful place as the nation’s premier college basketball program, I am just as motivated to help this University fulfill its Top 20 mission of creating a healthier, wealthier, and better-educated Commonwealth.”

Leveraging UK’s world-famous athletic brand to benefit the academic side of campus has been a hallmark of President Todd’s since becoming UK President in 2001. UK Athletics is one of only 25 universities in the nation that supports itself using only athletic revenues. UK Athletics also has become a national leader in supporting the academic side of campus, providing the University with about $1.6 million each year for non-athletic, academic scholarship programs.

Todd and Calipari addressed the crowd at Saturday’s kick-off event, encouraging fans in attendance to donate to the cause. As part of the launch, UK created a text messaging donor drive to create broad-based support across the UK community. Those wishing to make a gift to the President’s Scholarship Initiative can text “BLUE” to 50555. Five dollars will be added to the individual’s mobile phone bill, with all proceeds going to the scholarship campaign.

“The text messaging drive is a fun and innovative way to garner support from a wide-array of University friends,” said Mike Richey, UK’s Vice President for Development and UK’s Chief Development Officer. “Naturally, as part of this initiative, UK alumni, volunteers, and development professionals will seek philanthropic partners to help fulfill larger goals.”

President Todd and First Lady Patsy Todd and Coach Calipari and his wife, Ellen, are giving $25,000 each to launch the initiative. Coach Calipari has challenged other philanthropists and business leaders to do the same. Three donors have already met that challenge. Jim and Diane Stuckert, UK alums and long-time UK volunteers, donors, and champions, Troy Turner, President of Commonwealth Technology, and UK Student Government (SGA), represented by SGA President Ryan Smith, have all agreed to match the $25,000 gift, bringing the early total to $125,000. 

Richey said the President’s Scholarship Initiative is UK’s first major fundraising drive since UK completed its billion-dollar capital campaign a few years ago. The former campaign, aided by Kentucky’s Bucks for Brains program, sought to enhance UK’s education and research infrastructure by adding endowed chairs and professorships to the University community.

“The President’s Scholarship Initiative is not just important for the future of the University; it is important for Kentucky’s future,” Todd said. “Scholarships afford students with the greatest gift anyone can offer – the gift of opportunity. Scholarships help level the playing field for our students, providing them with the resources they need to come to UK and show they can compete with the best minds in the world, regardless of their financial situations.”

The impact of UK scholarships can be felt in communities across the state.

“Giving to a child’s education is the greatest gift someone can give,” said Abbas Mandviwala, a junior majoring in biology and economics from London, Ky., who came to UK on the Presidential Scholarship. “The fact that people are willing to donate and invest their money to ensure the success of another individual is remarkable. I am forever grateful.”