New scholarships available at Lincoln Memorial University

Lincoln Memorial University has recently received a $3 million gift from the estate of Evelyn Hoskins Phillips, who, along with her husband, was a respected member of the region’s landscaping and arboriculture industry and community. The gift will be used to fund scholarships for students who are pursuing veterinary medicine, agriculture, or horticulture studies.

According to an article on Lincoln Memorial University’s website, Jason McConnell, DBA, the university’s president, expressed his gratitude for the gift. He was quoted as saying, “This incredible gift is going to change lives, not just for our students but for the communities they’ll go on to serve. Mrs. Phillips’ generosity will ripple out for years to come, opening doors and creating opportunities that go far beyond our campus. It’s the kind of support that doesn’t just shape individual futures—it strengthens the mission of LMU and the impact our graduates will have across the region.”

Evelyn and her late husband were the owners of Phillips Tree Experts. In addition to their ownership of the company, the couple also worked with Bartlett Tree Experts, Ashland Tree Experts, Phillips Tree Experts of Kentucky, and Phillips Tree Experts of Virginia. They spent much of their lives involved in the agricultural community, having been members of the National/International Shade Tree Association, the Kentucky Nursery Association, and the Arborist Association.

Speaking of her knowledge of Evelyn, Dr. Cynthia Whitt, who is a former vice president for advancement at Lincoln Memorial University, said, “I have known Mrs. Phillips since 2012, and she was a quiet, gracious lady, with a sense of humor. Having lived in Harrogate, Tenn., for several years, she was very proud of LMU and was committed to the mission, and she wanted to do all she could to assist students. We talked much through the years about conservation, COVID and how it might impact our students and the country. She loved receiving flowers and being remembered and loved and she was so generous, always sending fruit at Christmas. Mrs. Phillips knew Jordan Smith, The Voice, and loved to hear him sing. It was my pleasure to have met her.”

For more information about Lincoln Memorial University, visit the school’s website.