It was a very special Homecoming indeed for Eastern Kentucky University.

In a halftime presentation Saturday, Oct. 19, the EKU National Alumni Association presented the University with a $1.25 million check, the largest gift ever received by Eastern.

The donation will go toward the Regional Endowment Trust Fund Match, also known as the "Bucks for Brains" program. Together with an earlier $250,000 gift from the Alumni Association, the gift enables EKU to receive $1.5 million in matching funds from the Commonwealth. The $3 million endowment will be for student scholarships.

"On behalf of the University, the EKU Foundation and all current and future students, we are deeply appreciative of this wonderful gift," EKU President Joanne Glasser said. "The Alumni Association has been a long-time partner in raising scholarship money, keeping alumni in touch with their alma mater and advancing the University toward its goal of becoming a university of national distinction."

Ken Tippett, president of EKU's National Alumni Association, presented the gift to President Glasser at midfield.

"One of the main objectives of the National Alumni Association is to be able to give back to the University," Tippett said. "The Association also wants to assist with the recruitment of students. This endowed scholarship program will enable the National Alumni Association and the local alumni chapters to award deserving students financial assistance as they begin their studies at Eastern."