04/20/07 —Wichita resident creates $250,000 endowment for KSU scholarships
Kara Belew, Wichita, Kan., has created an endowment through a universal life insurance policy of $250,000 to the Kansas State University Changing Lives Campaign to establish the Kara E. Belew Education Scholarship and the Kara E. Belew Leadership Scholarship.
The recipient of the education scholarship will be an undergraduate student who graduated from USD 261 Haysville schools or was an ambassador of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar. The student must be enrolled in the College of Education at K-State. The recipient of the leadership scholarship will be an undergraduate student enrolled in any curriculum at K-State with a minor in leadership studies, who is a member of the KSU Student Foundation.
Belew is a native of Haysville, Kan. She is a 1994 graduate of Kansas State University, with a bachelor’s degree in education with a history emphasis. While at K-State she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and Student Foundation.
Following her graduation, Belew taught at Halstead for seven years before moving to her alma mater, Campus High School, Haysville, where she has taught for the last nine years. Belew was recently selected as a recipient of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship and is one of 47 social science teachers from throughout the United States to study the Constitution at Georgetown last summer.
“Education is the great equalizer in this world,” Belew said. “I wanted to be a part of the solution to help students earn a degree. As a student, I saw firsthand the impact and significance of the KSU Telefund and donors who knew the importance of their generosity. It is truly a dream come true for me to be able to give back and support a legacy of quality educators and great leaders who will continue to graduate from K-State.”
“Kara’s significant gifts are excellent examples of leadership in action,” said Michael Holen, dean of the College of Education. “She recognizes the crucial role teachers play in the lives of children and successes of communities. Her generosity will make the attraction of additional high quality students to the teaching profession possible.”
“Kara shows remarkable service-focused leadership by establishing a legacy so that others follow her path as a leader,” said Susan Scott, vice president of institutional advancement and assistant vice president of leadership studies.
Gifts of life insurance enable a donor to make a substantial future gift by making small premium payments over time. There are several ways to make a gift to K-State through life insurance: Donors may change the beneficiary of an existing policy or purchase and donate a new or existing policy, and transfer ownership to the KSU Foundation. The contract’s value and premiums, given to K-State through the KSU Foundation, may qualify for an income tax deduction. Upon death, the insurance proceeds go to the designated purpose set forth by the donor.
The Changing Lives Campaign for Kansas State University is a comprehensive $500 million campaign that will infuse new funds into virtually every dimension of the university. The KSU Foundation coordinates fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for Kansas State University.