August 17, 2001

WKU Announces Three Legacy Scholarship Gift Commitments

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University today announced three new scholarship gifts to the University. The gifts will be funded through the donors' estate plans and represent a combined total of $1.3 million.

Dr. Jim and Mrs. Avo Taylor, $400,000 real estate bequest commitment for scholarships for geography students
Western has received a commitment from Dr. Jim and Mrs. Avo Taylor of Cedar Hill, Tenn. According to Tom Hiles, WKU's vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, Dr. and Mrs. Taylor have, in their final testamentary trust, made a bequest to Western of 55 acres of valuable farm property on Mrs. Taylor's family home place where the Taylors settled after their retirement. The property is currently valued at $400,000.
Hiles said the bequest will create the "Dr. James Woodall and Mrs. Avo Head Taylor Scholarship Fund" for students majoring in geography.

Dr. Taylor, a former member of the WKU geography faculty, said: "I always enjoyed working with my students and having interaction with graduate students. I want to give something back that will make a difference in the lives of students for years to come. I want to see Western and the state of Kentucky excel and become renowned for excellent educational opportunities."

Mrs. Taylor, a 1973 library science graduate, said: "I have fond memories from our time at Western. I always enjoyed school there, and our faculty always worked very closely with us. I hope our gift helps foster that same attitude."

Col. Edgar B. Stansbury, $250,000 charitable remainder annuity trust for scholarships for athletics, English and teacher education
Western has been named as the beneficiary of a $250,000 charitable remainder annuity trust established by Col. Edgar B. Stansbury, a 1930 alumnus from Largo, Fla. This has been designated for the "Col. Edgar B. and Edith R. Stansbury Scholarship Fund" in support of athletics, English and teacher education.

This is the fourth large gift Western has received from Col. Stansbury, Hiles said. His first commitment to these scholarship programs was made in 1998.

"Charitable remainder trusts provide income to the donor or other beneficiaries for life or a set term of years," Hiles said. "The remainder of the gift is made to Western at the end of the trust. The donor's tax benefit is based on the amount of the gift, the ages of the beneficiaries and the percentage of the trust assets received as income."

Estate of Dr. J. Estill Alexander, $650,000 for scholarships for teacher education
Western has also received a gift from the J. Estill Alexander Estate. Valued at approximately $650,000, this gift is designated to the "Levi and Bertha Alexander Scholarship Fund" in support of teacher education majors from Wayne County, Ky. Dr. Alexander, a 1952 alumnus who lived in Knoxville, Tenn., died in March 2001. Western has already received $452,000 from Dr. Alexander's estate.

The two latter gifts will be made to the College Heights Foundation at Western. "We are sincerely grateful to these individuals for sharing their resources to provide assistance and encouragement to deserving students attending Western," said Alex Downing, president of the College Heights Foundation. "It demonstrates devotion to their alma mater and a belief in the importance of education."

Hiles said there are many ways to support Western Kentucky University. "Donors may choose to make outright gifts or deferred gifts, indicated whether their gift is for immediate use or, at specified levels, establish a permanently endowed fund," he said. "It is important for donors to find the method which bests meets their individual needs while accomplishing their wishes."

He added that bequest commitments through wills are "very popular because they are easy to arrange and may be determined according to the donors' interests. We appreciate the generosity of these three donors who shared President Gary Ransdell's vision that Western be the 'best comprehensive university in the Commonwealth and among the best in the nation.'"

Increased scholarship support is an important priority in Western's "Challenging the Spirit" strategic plan and for the "Investing in the Spirit" Campaign for Western. Hiles said the Campaign has a goal of raising $17 million for scholarship support by the year 2003. Thus far, the University has raised $16.1 toward this goal.

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