Big News for Bowling Green Students: New Housing Scholarships Announced!
Bowling Green is buzzing with excitement this week after Western Kentucky University (WKU) unveiled a generous $2 million endowment that will create two wonderful housing scholarships. This fantastic gift comes from the Robert and Mary Tincher Charitable Foundation Inc., and it’s set to make a huge impact on the lives of students in our community.
What’s in Store?
At the WKU Board of Regents meeting, a big announcement was made by WKU’s Vice President for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, Amanda Trabue. The new scholarships will be called the Robert and Mary Tincher Housing Scholarship and the Robert and Mary Tincher Lady Topper Housing Scholarship. One of the scholarships will especially benefit female athletes at WKU, while the other will be aimed at graduates from Bowling Green and Warren County high schools.
WKU President Tim Caboni shared just how transformative this gift will be, stating that each scholarship is projected to generate about $40,000 annually. That means more students will be able to afford residence hall living and related fees. Isn’t that amazing?
A Gift That Keeps on Giving
Caboni is absolutely thrilled about what this means for the community. “You think about how important that gift is for students in our community,” he remarked. “If they can’t afford to be in a residence hall, or if they are one of our Lady Topper athletes, it really helps all those young people today, tomorrow and in perpetuity.”
Furthermore, there’s even a preference for students who transition from South Central Kentucky Community and Technical College into residence halls at WKU. This thoughtful consideration shows how committed the Tinchers were to uplifting the community.
A Legacy of Generosity
The Tinchers left quite the legacy behind! They were known as incredibly generous individuals who considered the Bowling Green community as their family. Joe Bill Campbell, general counsel for the Robert and Mary Tincher Charitable Foundation, spoke fondly of them, saying, “Bob and Mary Tincher were two of the most generous people that I have ever known.”
Don’t forget, the Tinchers were not only graduates of WKU but also staunch supporters of various initiatives at the university since 1976. Their impact can be felt through several scholarships, contributions to the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, and support for the Lady Topper basketball team.
More Good News
And that’s not all! The foundation is also behind another significant donation of $1.5 million to South Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKyCTC), aimed at establishing the Robert and Mary Tincher Campus Community Center. This new center promises to be a state-of-the-art hub for both students and the public. Talk about a double whammy of support for higher education in our area!
Remembering the Tinchers
Robert Tincher, who passed away in 2009, was a successful entrepreneur and gave generously to many organizations throughout his life. His wife, Mary Louise Tincher, established the foundation to ensure that their commitment to community support continued. Sadly, she passed away in 2018, but their spirit of giving is very much alive through these scholarships and future initiatives.
Conclusion
As Bowling Green watches WKU take giant strides toward enhancing opportunities for local students, we can only feel a warm sense of pride. With scholarships and community centers, the Tinchers have left behind a legacy that will benefit many generations to come. Here’s hoping that many students seize this golden opportunity and thrive in their educational journeys!
