Blakeman Memorial Scholarship awarded to four recipients

Morehead State University’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development has announced four spring 2019 recipients of the J.B. Blakeman Memorial Scholarship: Brian Carter of Morehead; Alex Entsminger of Melbourne, Florida; Ben McCarty of Lexington; and Jimmy Ray of Varney. 

Carter is a freshman biomedical sciences major. He was recognized for his community service, including volunteering at St. Claire Regional Medical Center. Carter attended the Carlson Leadership Academy in Atlanta in February and currently serves as Sigma Phi Epsilon’s (SigEp) vice president of finance. He was on the dean’s list his first semester, participates in intramural sports and serves as vice president for recruitment for the Interfraternity Council (IFC). 

Entsminger is a junior general business major. He attended the Carlson Leadership Academy and currently serves as secretary for SigEp’s executive board. He is a Dean’s List student and serves as vice president of judicial and academic affairs for IFC at MSU. 

McCarty is a sophomore criminology/military science major. He attended the Carlson Leadership Academy and serves as SigEp’s vice president of member development. He is an ROTC Cadet, Dean’s List student and volunteers for both Gateway Helping Hands and the Mt. Sterling Community Food Coalition. McCarty is also a member of Phi Sigma Pi, an academic and service organization at MSU.  

Ray is a freshman nursing major. He attended the Carlson Leadership Academy in Atlanta and currently serves as SigEp’s vice president of communications. He and his family have been active supporters of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; he has participated in the fundraising walk in Lexington for more than 10 years. Ray serves locally at Gateway Helping Hands by packing backpack snacks for area schoolchildren. 

The scholarship was established in 2012 in memory of Jeffery Scott “J.B.” Blakeman. A graduate of Morehead State University with an industrial technology degree, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and a Chi Omega sorority big brother. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and photographing wildlife. Blakeman loved golfing and was a member of the Eagle Trace Men’s Golf Association. He was also a proud supporter of Rowan County and MSU athletics. He passed away in September 2011 at the age of 52. 

With these awards, nearly $20,000 in scholarship funds have been awarded through the J.B. Blakeman Memorial Scholarship fund. MSU announced last year that enough funds have been raised to establish a scholarship endowment, where the return on the funds will provide scholarship resources into the future. 

For more information on the scholarship or to make a donation, contact MSU’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email alumni@moreheadstate.edu or visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu. 
 

Jeffrey Liles, Brian Carter, Kennedy Bryce Blakeman (18), Ben McCarty, Vicki Collins Blakeman (81), Jimmy Ray, Taylor Blakeman Barney (11), Alex Entsminger and Bill Redwine (79).