A legacy of service: Becknell scholarship supports future health care leaders
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2024) – The legacy of a bubbly and kindhearted University of Kentucky student lives on through a new scholarship offered to College of Health Sciences students.
Madison Becknell had a smile that lit up every room she walked in. She knew how to make someone laugh, she was her family’s comforter and there was never a challenge that was too big for her to take on.
But, in February of 2024 tragedy struck when Madison was involved in a car wreck involving a tractor-trailer. She died at 21 years old, three months before she was set to graduate from the Clinical Leadership and Management (CLM) program in the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and preparing to continue her education with a Masters in Business.
During her time at UK, Madison was an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and was an intern with the Health Sciences communication team. She loved everything about UK, but especially enjoyed attending football games and going to all the different social events campus had to offer.
Madison was excited to finish her education and begin a career in health care to help others and serve her community. Now, her parents are making sure her legacy lives on through other students who have similar goals.
“Once she started down the College of Health Sciences CLM path, there was no looking back,” said Madison’s father, Bill Becknell. “She really felt like she could make a difference and she was just so excited. She felt like it was her passion to improve people’s health and be part of their care in some way.”
This fall, the Becknells started the Madison Becknell Clinical Leadership and Management Memorial Scholarship to make sure the memory of their daughter lives on.
“We see a lot of individuals that want to go to college, want to be part of healthcare and be part of improving the health and lives of others,” said Bill Becknell. “We want to be able to help them on their journey in honor of Madison.”
Their goal is to raise enough funds to give out two $2,500 scholarships each year to individuals in the CLM program. Recipients will be students who exemplify the passion Madison had for life and the future of health care.
Those qualities include enthusiasm and excitement for the future of health care, positive energy to faculty and classmates, and resilience in the face of adversity.
“Madison was my intern for almost three years. From my time of knowing her, I knew two things — she loved to help people, and she was a problem-solver,” said Ryan Clark, College of Health Sciences director of communication. “She wanted to know how to make things better, and how she could help people. That’s why I think she would’ve really liked the idea that a scholarship was going toward helping others. I know it is something that would’ve made her happy.”
Outside of the College of Health Sciences, one of Madison’s favorite parts of attending UK was her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta (AGD).
“She had true sisters in AGD,” said Madison’s mother, Debra Becknell. “She loved the events and the philanthropy, and she had a lot of great relationships. They really knew her very well and had great experiences together. It was very meaningful to her.”
AGD President, Emma Pence, remembers all the times Madison went above and beyond for UK’s AGD chapter. Pence says she was touched by Madison’s constant course of positivity, love and vibrancy.
“Madison was selfless. She never failed to recognize when someone was struggling and always sought to uplift others,” said Pence. “She was known to reach out to people anytime she thought they needed some encouragement.”
On Sept. 16, AGD and the College of Health Sciences are partnering to kick off a two-week campaign to raise funds for the scholarship.
“It’s important to our chapter to partner with the College of Health Sciences because Madison means the world to AGD and it’s our way of being able to show up for her,” said Pence. “Madison’s impact is felt throughout each of our sisters, and each day we see the impact that she had on the wider community as well. Her legacy continues to grow and shine brightly, and we are honored to join the College of Health Sciences in the opportunity to support this scholarship.”
During the campaign, UK students are encouraged to make a donation to the fund, participate in volunteer work or do an act of service for others. Andy and Julie Stottmann, friends of Madison and the Becknell family, have pledged to give $10 to the Becknell scholarship fund for every act of service/volunteer hour (up to $2500).
Students who want to participate can take a photo of themselves at the location of their service work, post the photo on social media and use the hashtags #UKLiveLikeMadison or #MadisonServes to record and get credit for their work/kindness. All students and campus groups are invited to participate.
“Madison didn’t just see health care as a solution to people’s symptoms, but as a personal responsibility to educate yourself about your body and how to treat it,” said Debra Becknell. “She believed in advocating for yourself and others’ health care. We want her passion to live on through this scholarship by encouraging people to help in the advancement of healthcare and serving others.”
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.