CEHD Stewardship Luncheon brings scholarship supporters and students together

Scholarships do more than help students pay for college. They create opportunities, ease financial burdens and connect students with a community of people who believe in their potential.

The inaugural College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Stewardship Luncheon brought scholarship donors, student recipients, university and community partners, faculty and staff together on Oct. 28 at the University Club to celebrate those connections and recognize the impact of investing in future educators and leaders.

The event highlighted the deeply personal connections behind scholarship giving. Aaron Flaker, BS ’94, MBA ’98, who performed as UofL’s mascot “Louie,” and his uncle, Rick Redman, served as keynote speakers. They shared the story behind the scholarship endowment they established in memory of Aaron’s late mother, Kathy Redman, who served as a CEHD department coordinator. Through the Kathy Redman Educational Scholarship in Support of Students from Appalachia (KRESSA), they honor Kathy’s legacy by investing in the success of future generations of students. Their remarks offered a powerful reminder of how scholarship support can transform lives and create lasting opportunities.

The luncheon also celebrated the students whose educational journeys are made possible through scholarship support. One of those students, Jazmin Martinez Diaz, a first-generation college student studying Organizational Leadership and Learning, is working toward a future in education, where she hopes to support diverse students and families. Balancing her academic commitments with work and campus engagement, Martinez Diaz has found that scholarship support eases the financial pressure of pursuing her degree while affirming the value of her hard work. Her experience reflects the broader purpose of CEHD’s scholarship community: helping students pursue their educational goals while preparing them to make a difference in the lives of others.

Together, these stories illustrate the impact of CEHD’s scholarship community. Donor generosity helps students pursue their educational goals, prepares future educators and professionals, and creates opportunities for graduates to make a difference in their communities.

CEHD extends its gratitude to all our individual donors and community partners, including Ayako Foundation, Class Act Federal Credit Union, WHAS and the Jewish Heritage Fund, for their deep belief in our mission.  

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