Mary Rodes Lannert believed strongly in the importance of education and civic involvement. She served on the board of directors of her alma mater, Louisville Collegiate School, as well as the boards of Locust Grove and the Filson Historical Society, and she was a member of both the 1989 class of Leadership Louisville and the 1990 class of Bingham Fellows.
Stephen C. Lannert says the scholarship that he endowed to provide financial assistance to a graduate of Louisville Collegiate School is an ideal way to honor his late wife, who died in 1998 at the age of 37.
“Bellarmine University and Louisville Collegiate School are two outstanding Louisville academic institutions,” he said. “I thought the establishment of the Mary Rodes Lannert Endowed Scholarship would be an excellent method of honoring Mary’s memory by strengthening the relationship between these two fine Louisville schools in a way that would help a deserving Louisville Collegiate School graduate obtain a college degree and allow Bellarmine University to expand its outreach to an important part of the Louisville community.”
He said he believes that Mary Rodes Lannert, who lived her life with grace, enthusiasm and passion, would be more than pleased by this living memorial. “Mary would have been delighted with the establishment of this scholarship.”
The scholarship, for a full-time student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and/or an ACT score of 25 or higher, is renewable for a total of eight semesters. The scholarship was awarded for the first time this semester.
“I look forward to encouraging the first recipient to obtain a degree and, as noted in the scholarship mission statement, to lead a more purposeful and meaningful life to improve society and the human condition as exemplified by the life of Mary Rodes Lannert,” Mr. Lannert said.