Taking advantage of the opportunity to double her impact through EXCELerate, Deavy and her husband have recently established an endowment for students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The two hope to build upon this initial endowment over the years and have decided to leave it completely unrestricted in alignment with the goals of EXCELerate.
“It feels like a great way for me to give back and lead by example, not only as an alumna but as a senior member of the university’s staff,” Deavy says.
The motivation for this endowed scholarship goes beyond the College of Arts and Sciences alumna’s commitment to NKU. Deavy understands just how important scholarship support is for students.
“I feel very strongly about scholarships. I would not have been able to go to college if I hadn’t benefited from the generosity of others,” she says. “Those scholarships did exactly what they were intended to do. They helped me earn a college degree, become a successful professional, create opportunities for my children and my family, and pay it forward to the next generation.”
Deavy shared how much she loves her work and her ability to support scholarships, saying, “Just knowing that there are students on campus each day who are benefitting from the same experiences I did as a first-generation college student because of the work my team and I do and what I am able to contribute personally is motivation enough for me.”
The transformational potential of higher education is something that Deavy believes in passionately. She hopes others also recognize the value NKU contributes to the lives of our graduates and their families, as well as to the vibrancy of our communities. She encourages anyone who can give in support of scholarships to consider the impact they can make, no matter the dollar amount.
“Education is something no one can ever take away from you, and it goes with you everywhere you go and whatever you choose to do,” she says. “Outside of impacting someone’s physical health, this is probably the best way you can positively change someone’s life.”
Deavy is heartened by not only the NKU community but also by the many business, government and civic leaders who care about NKU and its impact in the Greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky region.
“This supportive community gives me confidence that even in difficult times, we will persevere because so many people are invested in the university continuing to grow and thrive,” she says. “It gives me hope and faith in the work we do here in Advancement. NKU will continue to grow at the speed of our collective philanthropy, and I believe our future is bright.”
Learn more about the EXCELerate Initiative at
nku.edu/excelerate.
