Honoring Legacies, Building Futures: Scholarship Luncheon Celebrates Sponsors and Students at FHU

Scholarships do more than provide financial support—they build bridges between generations and preserve legacies that continue to inspire. This spring, FHU brought together more than 90 students and scholarship sponsors to a special luncheon honoring the generosity of donors and the promise of the next generation.

Most full-time undergraduate students at FHU receive scholarships, the majority of which are endowed. The annual luncheon is a meaningful opportunity for scholarship recipients to meet the benefactors who make their education possible.

Travis Hartle (left) presents the first Brandon Holiday Memorial Scholarship with support from Brandon's close friends and family.

This year attendees and scholarship sponsors made personal connections and shared stories. One of the most poignant moments of the event was the presentation of the Brandon Holiday Memorial Scholarship, which was awarded for the first time this year. The scholarship was created by Brandon’s friends following his untimely passing in 2021, with the goal of honoring his legacy and supporting future youth ministry majors.

“I am so excited and thankful to God that the scholarship was fully funded, endowed and awarded to the first FHU student this year,” said Travis Hartle, a close friend of Brandon’s and one of the scholarship sponsors. “It is a great feeling to know that Brandon’s legacy will live on through other youth ministry majors. Brandon touched so many lives, including mine, and now he will continue to touch others’ lives by being a part of their educational journey.”

Dr. Gary and Rosemary McKnight (left) celebrate the addition of the Gary and Rosemary McKnight Endowment Fund for Choral Music.

This year’s recipient, Tyler Hills, expressed deep gratitude not only for the financial support but for the personal interactions that came with it. “It was truly an honor to receive the scholarship in Brandon's memory,” Hills said. “I also appreciated the opportunity to meet some of his friends and family members who played a pivotal role in establishing the scholarship. It was a privilege to talk to them and even discover some really neat connections between our families that stretch back several years.”

Members of the University Chorale perform at the scholarship luncheon.

Adding to the celebration, this year’s luncheon also spotlighted the new Gary and Rosemary McKnight Endowment Fund for Choral Music, continuing the tradition of highlighting one fund or scholarship that exemplifies the spirit of giving at the heart of the FHU community.

The event served as a reminder of how generosity can span generations—and how a legacy of giving can shape not only individual lives but also an entire university culture rooted in faith, scholarship and service.