JACKSON, Tenn. — March 16, 2021 — Bobby and Shirley Cogdell of Lexington, Tennessee, donated $50,000 to create a scholarship fund for students in 51社区鈥檚 EDGE program.
The Cogdells鈥� granddaughter, Olivia Gaston, presented the check for the scholarship fund to Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver March 15.
The Union EDGE program provides a holistic, post-secondary education for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, encouraging increased independent skills that lead to a better quality of life and aligning with Union鈥檚 mission of providing Christ-centered education. EDGE is an acronym for employment training, daily living skills, godly focus and educational enrichment.
鈥淚t is our desire to help children, such as our very special granddaughter, Olivia Gaston,鈥� Bobby Cogdell said. 鈥淭his will assist these students to continue their education at one of our nation鈥檚 finest Christian universities.鈥�
The new fund is called 鈥淭he Lee, Chris and Becky Cogdell Honorary Scholarship Fund for Down Syndrome and Intelligent Disability Students.鈥� Cogdell said he established the fund in appreciation of the Christian lives of his three children and in consideration of their mother, Fay Cogdell, who was a graduate of Union and a longtime special education teacher. Scholarships will be awarded each year to students enrolled in the EDGE program, and priority will be given to students with Down syndrome.
Kevin Riffle, a student at South Gibson County High School in Medina, has been accepted to the seventh cohort of Union鈥檚 EDGE program this fall. Riffle will be one of the first recipients of this scholarship.
鈥淪chool is important to me in this part of my life,鈥� Riffle said. He is very excited about the scholarship, he added, and is looking forward to making new memories at Union.
The EDGE program exists due to the support of the university and people like Cogdell who have a heart for individuals with disabilities, said Jennifer Graves, director of the Union EDGE Program.
鈥淭he $50,000 scholarship fund that the Cogdell family is establishing for individuals with Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities will assist in helping students gain employment skills, daily living skills, a godly worldview and educational enrichment,鈥� Graves said. 鈥淲e are blessed by this wonderful family鈥檚 generosity and a desire to help students go to college.鈥�