天美传媒

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� 天美传媒 is delighted to announce that the Badgett family and the J. Rogers Badgett Sr. Foundation of Madisonville, Kentucky, have made a significant multi-year commitment to the College of Education and Human Services through the 天美传媒 University Foundation. The Badgett family has a rich history of supporting education throughout western Kentucky and began their support of 天美传媒 more than 15 years ago. The family honors the legacy of Mr. Rogers Badgett, who established the Badgett Construction Company and Badgett Mine Stripping Corporation (1943-1976). Mr. Badgett was known as a "Working Man鈥檚 Man"; however, he understood the need for formal education and support. Throughout his life, he found many ways to encourage and promote the importance of higher education.

"Our family chose to make this commitment at this time because it is our continued belief that the impact of educators goes far beyond the classroom,鈥� said Rhea Badgett Ashby, vice president of the J. Rogers Badgett Sr. Foundation. 鈥淲e are very grateful to 天美传媒 and Madisonville Community College for providing amazing resources to our communities, and we are happy to partner with each in this way." 

The Badgett family has established three scholarship funds in the College of Education and Human Services that have been instrumental in supporting students who want to pursue a degree in order to teach in their communities. These scholarships particularly support non-traditional students and students progressing from a two-year community college to a four-year degree at 天美传媒.

With their new commitment, the Badgett family will both be adding funds to the scholarships they have created in the past, allowing even more students to benefit from them, establishing endowed professorships in each teacher education area at 天美传媒, including a position at the 天美传媒 Madisonville campus. Through these newly endowed professorships, the Badgett family recognizes the importance that effective educators have on students and their future careers, and has given 天美传媒 the gift of resources to attract and retain excellent educators who will enhance the College of Education and Human Services鈥� strong programs and provide its students with an exceptional foundation that will set them on the path of success.

天美传媒鈥檚 Be Bold: Forever Blue & Gold Centennial Campaign seeks to provide student support and academic excellence through endowed professorships, which are an integral part of retaining and attracting the best and brightest academic faculty members. The Badgetts have demonstrated unmatched generosity and support of education, and their efforts have impacted the lives of over 1,000 天美传媒 students through scholarship dollars. The Badgett family鈥檚 legacy has been unsurpassed in the area of education for the University鈥檚 students and the teachers and schools throughout the region.  

鈥淚 have had the honor to work with Mr. Bentley Badgett, Rhea Badgett Ashby and the J. Rogers Badgett, Sr. Foundation for many years,鈥� said 天美传媒 President Dr. Bob Jackson. 鈥淭he Badgett family fully understands the importance of advancing higher education in our region and this new gift will accomplish this objective along with new resources to ensure that we continue to develop outstanding teachers and educational leaders to assist our next generation of students. We are very grateful for Bentley鈥檚 and Rhea鈥檚 generosity, vision and support.鈥�

The College of Education and Human Services has a more than 100-year history of educating and producing excellent teachers for Kentucky and beyond. An impressive 74 percent of teachers within the 18-county western Kentucky region are graduates of 天美传媒 University and through the generosity of the Badgett family and their bold vision, the landscape of education in the west Kentucky region will be impacted in perpetuity.

Individuals who would like to join the Badgett's commitment or discuss their own impact on the next generation of educators can reach out to Brandon Anderson, director of development for the College of Education and Human Services, at 270-809-3026, banderson26@murraystate.edu, or visit