WKU News & Events

August 19, 2002

Isbell Gift Creates Two Scholarships
At WKU

Bowling Green, Ky. - Rosella Isbell will make a difference in the lives of students she will never meet. Isbell, of Bowling Green, recently made two $50,000 gifts to create scholarship funds that will provide awards to students in perpetuity.

One gift created the "Calvin M. and Rosella Spivey Isbell Scholarship Fund for the WKU Department
of Nursing" and the other created the "Calvin M. and Rosella Spivey Isbell Alumni Leadership Scholarship."

Calvin Isbell, an alumnus of the Bowling Green Business University, died in 1997.

"Calvin and I became interested in the nursing profession many years ago when we had a niece who entered school to become a nurse," Rosella Isbell said. "We have always wanted to do something to support worthy students pursuing a nursing career. I am also pleased that we can provide support for the Alumni Leadership Scholarship program. This program is grooming fine young students to become outstanding leaders."

According to Donald Smith, executive director of the WKU Alumni Association, the Alumni Leadership Scholars Program candidates are selected based upon proven academic achievement and leadership example.

"Eight incoming freshmen are selected for interview from thousands of nominees each year," he said. "From the interview process, four candidates are selected to enter the Alumni Leadership Scholars program. The group of recipients receives leadership training monthly during the academic year."

Smith said one of the 16 scholars is designated as the "Calvin M. and Rosella Isbell Spivey Scholar."

H. Alexander Downing, president of the College Heights Foundation, expressed his appreciation to Rosella Isbell.

"The Isbells have made enormous contributions to Bowling Green and Western Kentucky University throughout the years," he said. "Mrs. Isbell's actions represent a meaningful way to honor the memory of her late husband, Calvin. In addition, they demonstrate their belief in the importance of education."

For more information, contact Tom Hiles, vice president for Institutional Advancement, at (270) 745-6208. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.