Luke Birkes Scholarship established

The MSU Foundation has announced the establishment of the Luke Birkes Scholarship, a fund to provide scholarships to students with disabilities. An anonymous donor created the scholarship in honor of recent graduate Luke Birkes (20).   

During his time as a student, Birkes excelled in the classroom by making the Dean’s List each semester. He was also actively involved in several student organizations, including the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and the Student Government Association (SGA). His volunteer efforts with the CAB landed him a work-study position within the Office of Student Affairs.   

As a person with epilepsy, Birkes is an ongoing advocate for the illness. During his time as a student, he worked tirelessly, alongside his twin brother Colby, to make MSU the first Seizure Smart University in the country.   

The Luke Birkes Scholarship will support Kentucky students who utilize the Office of Student Disability Services at MSU. Recipients must have a GPA of 2.0 or above.   

Birkes hopes the scholarship can help a student with disabilities feel a vote of confidence that someone believes in them on the path to college graduation.   

“I hope that this scholarship will give them that type of uplift emotionally because it’s hard enough going to college away from your family when you have a disability,” Birkes said.   

Those wishing to contribute to this fund in honor of Birkes may do so by visiting alumni.moreheadstate.edu/lukebirkes, or by mail at MSU Foundation, 121 East 2nd Street, Morehead, KY 40351.   

For more information on this scholarship, or to establish your own, contact MSU’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email giving@moreheadstate.edu.