CEHD establishes Donna Dunn Memorial Scholarship

Radford University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) has announced the creation of a memorial scholarship to honor Donna Dunn, a beloved employee who passed away in May.

"We lost someone very dear to the college. Someone who made a difference in generations of students' lives," said Jocelyn Stephens, assistant director for University Advancement. "Her passion was education."

Stephens' announcement received a large ovation from CEHD faculty and staff gathered at the college's annual opening celebration on Aug. 27.

The memorial scholarship will be given to a deserving education major from Southwest Virginia with financial need.

The first scholarship will be awarded in spring 2016. Radford University faculty and staff are encouraged to contribute the scholarship.

Funds raised through Dec. 31 will go toward the spring scholarship. All money raised from Jan. 1, 2016, will go into an endowment, which was established by an anonymous donor.

"Donna Dunn was a beloved colleague and mentor here in the College of Education and Human Development. She provided generous and helpful guidance to both faculty and students," said CEHD Dean Kenna Colley. "This memorial scholarship is a great tribute to who she was as a person and allows for her great legacy to live on."

Dunn served 28 years as the advising coordinator in the Center for Advising and Licensure for CEHD. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973 and Master of Science degree in 1990 in business education from Radford University.

"It is fitting that Donna's colleagues are honoring her memory by creating a scholarship in her name, because they so greatly admired the dedicated way she served students in the College of Education and Human Development," said Steve Lerch, coordinator of retention at Radford University. "She taught the college's faculty – and indeed, all of us who are part of the Radford University advising community – that the best academic advisors forge relationships with students: relationships built upon shared responsibility, mutual respect, trust, honesty and compassion.

"Donna's impact upon academic advising at our institution was lasting and profound, and I know that she would be thrilled that each year a student will receive financial support in her name through the generosity of her friends."

To learn more about the scholarship fund, contact Stephens at (540) 831-5344 or jestephen@radford.edu. Contributions can also be made online.