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Russell Linnemann<\/p><\/div>\n
The Russell Linnemann Memorial Endowment gives $450,000 for the study of African and African-American history along with the story of the blues. The money, given in perpetuity, is divided into $450,000 to fund ongoing programs and $50,000 to create an account to honor the career of Linnemann and his academic contributions.<\/p>\n
The $400,000 will cover travel expenses for students and faculty members to research archives, historic sites or professional conferences as well as an ongoing lecture series. Students also can apply for stipends for internships with local nonprofits. The $50,000 is immediately available to support the program while the endowment matures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough these funds, we are able to create new avenues of financial and mentorship support for current students in the program, expand existing and create new community collaborations, bring award-winning scholars to campus and develop a vibrant interdisciplinary curriculum,\u201d Susan Eckelmann Berghel, director of Africana Studies and associate professor of history.<\/p>\n
Known as \u201cThe Blues Doctor,\u201d Linnemann joined the UTC \u00a0faculty in 1970 and taught in the Department of History for 36 years. While regularly teaching courses in Western Civilization, modern European history and African history, his signature courses were on the blues. He loved listening to and talking about the music and was given the Blues Foundation\u2019s “Keeping the Blues Alive” award in 1999 for his weekly radio program, Blues and More<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Linnemann endowment was established by William Horace Epstein, president of the Berkeley (Missouri) Lumber Co., Berkeley Homes Inc., Windler Windows & Patio Doors and Restero Corp. He and Linnemann met as undergraduates at Grinnell College in Sussex, England. The endowment is Epstein\u2019s way of honoring his longtime friend.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UTC History Department is immensely grateful to William Epstein for this generous gift in honor of his dear friend, Russell J. Linnemann. This memorial endowment and annual fund will be an enduring catalyst for the Africana Studies program, while memorializing Linnemann\u2019s academic legacy in the fields of African and African-American history and the history of the blues,\u201d said Michael D. Thompson, head of the Department of History and UC Foundation associate professor of history.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Music Administrative Assistant Jordan Hicks, Mountain Opry’s Ken Holloway and Associate Head of the Music Department Kenyon Wilson.<\/p><\/div>\n Sophomore Keely Phillips from Shelbyville, Tennessee, a major in music therapy, is the first UTC student to receive the Mountain Opry Scholarship.<\/p>\n The scholarship is named after the weekly music show that started in Walden, Tennessee, in 1979, and featured bluegrass, folk, gospel and other types of music. The show\u2019s bylaws said that, if the founding organization ended, any money still in hand would fund a folk music scholarship in the UTC College of Arts and Sciences.<\/p>\n When the show shut down in March 2020, almost $59,000 was endowed to the scholarship and all the show\u2019s equipment, including microphones, mic stands and mixing board, were given to the UTC music division. The Mountain Opry restarted in September 2020 but by a different organization than the original.<\/p>\n \u201cFor decades, the Mountain Opry presented folk music and supported the local music community.\u00a0The Department of Performing Arts is honored to be continuing the legacy of the Opry with their endowed scholarship.\u00a0This scholarship will indefinitely support UTC music students who have an interest in folk music,\u201d said Kenyon Wilson, associate head of the department.<\/p>\n The endowment has been placed in an investment fund and the plan is that, as it matures, either more than one student will receive the scholarship or more money may be available for students.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/h4>\n
Mountain Opry Scholarship <\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Dr. Kyle Knight Chemistry Research Fund<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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