The Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation has established the David L. Barnett Scholarship for first-generation Brenau University students.
The donation amounted to $100,000 to establish the scholarship in honor of Barnett, who became the university’s 11th president in February.
“At Brenau, we believe higher education is worth the investment because knowledge combined with purpose can serve the greater good of our communities,” Barnett said. “Through their ongoing and generous support of Brenau and our students, the Ivester Foundation has shown they share this belief. I’m pleased that these funds will help make the dream of attaining a college degree a reality for generations of students to come.”
Once endowed, the scholarship will be awarded to first-generation students who demonstrate financial need, are in good academic standing, and are from Hall County or graduated from a high school in Hall County.
“The Ivester Foundation wanted to honor the memory of Dr. Skleder and recognize Dr. Barnett’s elevation to president of Brenau,” Lynn Darby, president of the Ivester Foundation, said. “We thought the best way to honor both was through a perpetual ability to grant scholarships to worthy students of Brenau. We are pleased to provide this support and to congratulate Dr. Barnett.”
The foundation also contributed $40,000 to the Anne A. Skleder First Generation Endowed Scholarship Fund.
