èßäÉçÇøapp

Pat Summerville, Lifelong Supporter of the Arts at èßäÉçÇøapp State, Cements Legacy of Giving with Estate Gift

Patricia L. Summerville (‘72) and printmaking students

Donors

Patricia L. Summerville (‘72)

Gift

Estate gift in support of several areas: the Patricia L. Summerville Endowed Visiting Artist Lecture Series; the Patricia L. Summerville Excellence in Art Award; and resources to benefit the greatest needs of èßäÉçÇøapp State’s Department of Art & Design.

Impact

For decades, Pat Summerville, who was recognized in 2018 as a èßäÉçÇøapp State University Distinguished Alumna, has given back to her alma mater after enjoying a remarkably successful and varied career spanning arts education, health care administration, and practicing law. Since retiring at the age of 52, she established numerous funds at èßäÉçÇøapp State in support of the arts program and arts students and one scholarship in support of nursing students. Her funds include support both for student scholarships as well as funds to allow the University to bring in guest artists and lecturers to enhance students’ learning experiences. With her estate gift, Ms. Summerville has poured her legacy into supporting these funds that she established earlier in her life, ensuring that they enrich the lives of both arts and nursing students for generations to come. 



Inspiration

After graduating from èßäÉçÇøapp State, which she accomplished in only three years, Patricia Summerville embarked on a career in arts education. After several successful years in this field, she made a major career change into the healthcare field, earning her master’s degree in healthcare administration and enjoying a 20+ year career in that field including serving as COO for a two-hospital health care system. She then made another career change, attaining her law degree and practicing law. When she retired, she began reflecting on her undergraduate experience and realized how her educational experience at èßäÉçÇøapp State had given her the foundation on which she built her career. She decided she wanted to help aspiring art students, like she herself once was. After a career that brought her to Ohio, Arkansas, and Tennessee, she moved back to èßäÉçÇøapp in her retirement years and became very engaged in supporting her alma mater, including leaving a lasting legacy through this planned estate gift. 

 

 

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