SPRINGFIELD, Mo., July 15, 2022 – In honor of his late mother and Drury University alumna, former professional basketball player Anthony Tolliver and his family visited Drury to announce an endowed scholarship in her name.
During a private dedication ceremony on June 15, Tolliver talked about his mother’s legacy.
“What better way to honor a woman who was all about education, giving back and selflessness, then to help kids through school,” he said. “At her funeral there was person after person who stood up and talked about how Donna Lewis changed their lives. From that day, it’s become my personal mission to use everything I have to help other people and try to continue to build on her legacy.”
Lewis earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1975 and her Master of Arts in Special Education in 1984, both from Drury. She went on to dedicate 32 years to education in the Springfield Public School system, teaching at Central and Hillcrest High Schools.
Lewis had a passion for service, passing on that value to her own children. She stressed the importance of thinking positively and believing in their ability to accomplish whatever they set out to do. “Say you can,” she would tell them. “If you tell yourself you can do it, then you can do it.” Lewis passed away in 2008.
“Creating an endowed scholarship in a loved one’s name is a beautiful way to honor them,” said Marie Muhvic, executive vice president for university advancement. “It’s a way to carry on their legacy and memory for generations to come, but it’s also so much more. It’s a way to lift up a student and provide an opportunity for a better future that they might not have otherwise.”
One or more scholarships will be awarded from the endowment to a full-time undergraduate student each year. Decisions regarding the selection of scholarship recipients and the renewal of scholarships will be made by the Drury University Office of Financial Aid in accordance with university policies and procedures.
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Media Contact: Jasmine Bailey, Director of University Communications and Media Relations – (417) 873-7390 or JBailey012@drury.edu.
