KNOXVILLE—Seeking to give the greatest gift—a college education—Peyton and Ashley Manning have made a significant investment in the Peyton Manning Scholarship Endowment at the University of Tennessee. Their generous gift will offer financial assistance to two UT students annually.
Created in 1998, the Peyton Manning Scholarship Endowment is funded from gifts made to the university in honor of Manning’s academic awards while he was a UT student-athlete, the UT Athletic Department’s corporate matching grants program and other private gifts.
“The University of Tennessee holds a special place in my heart, and Ashley and I are excited about the opportunity to award more deserving UT students with the Manning Scholarship,” said Manning. “One of the most gratifying times for me each summer is meeting a phenomenal student who has been selected for the Manning Scholarship. Making a difference in the lives of young people is the greatest gift any of us can receive.”
To date, fifteen students have received awards from the scholarship. The Manning Scholarship covers the costs of tuition, room, and board. The award is granted to a first-year student on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and community service. All Peyton Manning Scholarship recipients are part of the Haslam Scholars Program, UT’s premiere specialized honors program.
This isn’t the first gift Manning has made to his alma mater. In 1999, Manning made a gift of $100,000 to the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center, which is home to the Peyton Manning Study Lab. In 2006, Manning announced and has fully funded a $1 million contribution to The Campaign for Tennessee for the renovation of Neyland Stadium and the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. In 2010, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback and his wife created the Peyton Manning Communications Enrichment endowment. The fund provides ongoing support for a variety of educational initiatives within the college’s School of Communication Studies, where Manning was the top Speech Communication graduate in spring 1997 and recipient of the college’s Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007.
“Peyton truly exemplifies the Volunteer spirit. He has always been a great supporter of the university with his time and his personal involvement with the students who have benefited from the Peyton Manning Scholarship as well as his investments in our university and our students,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek.
The Mannings’ gift is part of the university’s $1 billion fundraising campaign, The Campaign for Tennessee, which came to a close in December. The most ambitious effort in the university’s history, the campaign placed UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support. The campaign secured private gifts through contributions, pledges, and planned giving to advance the university’s strategic goals that include improving student access and success, research and economic development, outreach, and globalization. More than 98 percent of all gifts were designated for a specific purpose or program, such as scholarships or endowed professorships and helped provide the vital resources to advance key initiatives.
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C O N T A C T :
Tiffany Carpenter (865-974-1476, tcarpent@tennessee.edu)