The $20,000 gift will go toward the Tommy D. Grider Endowed Scholarship and the new agribusiness program.
Lindsey Wilson University has received a $20,000 gift from Bank of Columbia that will fund student scholarships and the development of the university’s new agribusiness program. The gift will be divided into $15,000 for the Tommy D. Grider Endowed Scholarship and $5,000 for the agribusiness program.
According to an article on Lindsey Wilson University’s website, William T. Luckey Jr, the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the ongoing partnership between the university and Bank of Columbia, "The Bank of Columbia has been a vital partner with Lindsey Wilson since its founding in 1903. Their continued investment in an endowed scholarship will support local students for years to come, and their additional support for our agribusiness program shows they recognize the growing need for graduates in this field."
The Tommy D. Grider Endowed Scholarship is named in honor of a longtime Bank of Columbia board member and is awarded annually to students who graduate from Adair County High School who are pursuing a Lindsey Wilson University degree in either business or finance. The gift from Bank of Columbia will bring $15,000 to the endowed fund to provide these students with scholarships.
The remaining $5,000 of the gift will go toward the development of the university’s new agribusiness program, which is tailored toward the specific needs of the region’s workforce.
Bank of Columbia President and CEO Mark Dykes said, "Agriculture is a dominant part of our local economy, and this new agribusiness program is a great opportunity for students in our area. There are a lot of career paths - from lending and ag sales to risk management and crop insurance - and this degree can lead to strong, well-paying jobs. It means so much to the local economy and to the people of this community. We want to support opportunities for students to stay close to home and receive a quality education."
Benson Sexton, the Dean of the School of Business and Communication, added, "This kind of partnership with the Bank of Columbia is especially meaningful as we develop our agribusiness program. Their investment as we launch this program is humbling, and we're confident it will be an excellent seed as we prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders in this region."
For more information about Lindsey Wilson University, visit the school’s website.