Butlers Establish Endowed Scholarship at LCC with $15,000 Impact Through Matching Fund

Keith and Brenda Butler of Parsons have made a generous $10,000 gift to the Labette Community College (LCC) Foundation to establish the Keith A. and Brenda K. Butler Endowed Scholarship, creating new opportunities for students to pursue their educational and career goals.

Through the LCC Foundation’s Hughes Matching Fund, their gift will receive an additional $5,000 match from the Pete and Mary Hughes Endowed Matching Pool, bringing the total value of the scholarship fund to $15,000. The Hughes Matching Fund provides a 50% match for new endowed scholarships of $5,000 or more, helping donors maximize their impact and expand access to education for LCC students.

The Butlers shared that their decision to establish the scholarship was inspired by friends Gary and Shirley Wall, who recently created an endowed scholarship and participated in the Hughes Matching Fund. Seeing the Walls’ commitment to giving back motivated them to make a similar investment in LCC students and the community.

“Knowledge is a wonderful gift,” said the Butlers. “We want to help students become better qualified for jobs right here in our community and give them the opportunity to pursue their dream careers.”

Brenda Butler, a retired teacher from the Parsons school district, and Keith Butler, a retired bank president in Parsons, have both spent their careers supporting education and workforce development. They understand firsthand the role education plays in opening doors and creating opportunity, and they hope their scholarship will help remove barriers for future students.

“We are incredibly grateful to Keith and Brenda for their generosity and their vision for student success,” said Lindi Forbes, Executive Director of the LCC Foundation & Alumni Association. “Their generosity will not only impact the students who receive their scholarship, but may also inspire others to consider how they, too, can create a legacy at LCC.”

Endowed scholarships at LCC provide permanent, sustainable support for students, with annual awards funded through investment earnings. The Hughes Matching Fund was established through a gift from the estate of Pete and Mary Hughes to encourage the creation of new endowed scholarships and expand educational access across the region. The Hughes Matching Fund Pool is available on a first-paid, first-served basis until the funds are fully allocated.

To learn more about establishing an endowed scholarship and participating in the Hughes Matching Fund, contact Forbes at lindif@labette.edu or 620-820-1212.