All in the Name of Education: A Loving Life Inspires a Living Legacy
Back row, from left: Lynn Henderson, Mayfield High School counselor; Billy Edwards, Mayfield High School principal; Jamie Haynes, Murray State University assistant director of stewardship & donor relations
Front row, from left: Brad Sparks, Don Sparks, Donna Sparks Moses
Mr. Don Sparks '58, has established an endowed scholarship at Murray State University to honor his late wife, Carolyn Lowe Sparks '58, whom he lost after 60 wonderful years of marriage and a life rooted in education. Making current gifts to Murray State University Foundation allows Don to support students today, while his planned gift ensures the fund will become permanent in the future.
Recipients of the newly established Carolyn Lowe Sparks Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time in the 2020-2021 academic year, must be full-time students at Murray State University and graduates of Mayfield High School, with preference given to those pursuing a degree leading to a teaching certificate for any elementary/secondary grade or subject, including Learning Behavior Disorders/Special Education.
Don's late wife, Carolyn Lowe, was born in 1936 as a fifth-generation descendant of the founding family of Lowes, Kentucky. After Lowes High School burned, Carolyn transferred to Mayfield High School, where she met the love of her life, Don Sparks, and the couple dated throughout high school and college. Don and Carolyn married in 1958 after they had each graduated from Murray State University (then known as Murray State College). While at Murray State, Carolyn was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and was voted Miss Murray State 1958 by the student body.
Both Don and Carolyn dedicated much of their lives to education. Carolyn was a beloved elementary teacher for 27 years; first in Mattoon, Illinois, and then at Mayfield City Schools. She tirelessly served the Mayfield High School Reunion Committee and the Mayfield-Graves County Retired Teachers Association and supported all things Mayfield Independent Schools and Murray State until prohibited by poor health.
Don is a former Mayfield Independent School District Superintendent and coach. In 1994, to honor his local service, Washington Elementary in Mayfield was renamed to Sparks Elementary (until its consolidation into Mayfield Elementary). He is also a former member of the Murray State University Board of Regents (2000-2006) and served as chair from 2004-2006.
A Gift From the Heart
You can make a gift that will not only impact Murray State students for generations to come, but honor someone special to you as well. Contact Dr. David Durr, CFA, CFP® at ddurr@murraystate.edu or 270-809-6912 to learn more.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.