The University of Mississippi announced on April 15 a new scholarship endowment created by Oxford resident Lucy Banks to honor the work and dedication of first responders. The Dr. Frank and Lucy Banks Scholarship Endowment was established with a $500,000 gift, fulfilling a vision that Banks shared with her late husband.
The scholarship aims to address the financial challenges faced by first responders and their families. It will be available to children of active or retired Mississippi firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, as well as active or retired first responders themselves.
“I’m very happy to create this scholarship endowment and I know Frank would be very pleased,” Lucy Banks said. “He worked closely with first responders, and many of them shared the financial difficulties they faced. Supporting first responders in this way was very important to both of us.”
The establishment of the scholarship was announced during Ole Miss Giving Day, an online campaign that encourages support for academic and outreach initiatives across the university community.
Jason McCormick, executive director of development at Ole Miss, said: “We are thrilled Mrs. Banks is honoring her late husband, Dr. Banks, in this meaningful way. She has shared with us how important first responders are to the Banks family, and her commitment to easing the financial burden for their children makes this gift especially impactful.”
Dr. Frank Banks died in February 2017 after a career in medicine that included serving as an Air Force flight surgeon and practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Missouri before returning home to Mississippi in 1970.
Lucy Banks worked in educational and pharmaceutical sales after graduating from Mississippi University for Women; she was recognized as the state’s first female pharmaceutical sales representative.
Those interested in supporting or applying for the new endowment can contact the University of Mississippi Foundation.
