Scholarship Fund

Raymond K. Miller

Investing in deserving students.

In creating a Scholarship, you invest in your community’s future and show students you care. Your community foundation provides the expertise to help you meet your personal goals and awards Scholarships to deserving students. Your gift can help students — from preschool to postgraduate — achieve their lifetime dreams.

You can create a Scholarship as a memorial to someone special, selecting eligibility criteria that exemplify that person’s goals and values. Or, you may use it to express your educational values — or those of your family or business. Depending on your preferences, the Scholarship you establish can support any area of academic need, including tuition, room and board, and books. Our program staff tracks performance to ensure students continue to meet the terms for Scholarship support.

If the Scholarship you establish is renewable, you can review updated information on the progress of recipients over the years. You may even elect to meet these students — something many donors find rewarding.

The minimum amount to establish a Scholarship Endowment is $20,000.

There is so much more we’d like you to know. For more information and ideas on ways to integrate your financial planning with charitable giving, ask your financial advisor or contact us.

Raymond K. Miller
Valuing education
            Raymond Miller was born and raised in Hyden, Kentucky. His parents were always proponents of education telling their three sons that education was necessary for making one’s way for a better life. Raymond attended Berea High School, Berea Kentucky. After one year at Berea College, he joined the United States Air Force knowing that after his tour of duty (was up) he would be eligible for the G. I. Bill in order to finish college. He was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany for three years.
            It was at Berea College that he met, and married Elinora Brittain, a native Morgantonian. They lived in Germany for two and a half years. After returning to the United States, he earned his B.S. from Eastern Kentucky State College. For six years he lived in Ohio with Elinora and their three children, Richard, Michael, and Sharon. He was very busy teaching Industrial Arts and establishing two general shops for junior and senior high schools.
            He returned to Eastern Kentucky University on a Fellowship earning a Master of Arts in Education. In 1967, he accepted a teaching position in Mechanical Drafting at Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC), where he remained until retiring in 1996.
            Like his parents, he always stressed the need for education to his children. He insisted that they attend WPCC before transferring to a four-year campus. They all earned bachelor’s degrees: Richard in Anthropology, Michael in Business, and Sharon in Nursing. The grandchildren are following the same legacy.
            During his thirty years at WPCC, he started the Art Department, received the Award for Excellence in Teaching and was the Coordinator/Instructor in Mechanical Drafting and Design. He was involved in many diverse activities other than teaching. Foremost, though, was the counseling of his students to continue their education and obtain a four-year degree. According to many of his students, he was demanding, but patient, kind, caring and respectful. His philosophy was education is the key to a better life. Learning, for him, never stopped.
            Although Raymond is no longer with us, he will always be remembered in the hearts of many as one who genuinely valued education and loved helping students achieve their dreams. By establishing the Raymond K. Miller Scholarship, his family honors his passion and continues his legacy of giving Burke County students help, hope and encouragement.