VENTURA, Calif. – A 1973 Tusculum University graduate who served on the institution’s Board of Trustees is paying it forward by teaming with his wife to create an endowed scholarship for future students.
Wayne and Pamela Eichele
Wayne and Pamela Eichele are supporting his alma mater by allocating a portion of their estate to Tennessee’s first higher education institution. Their generous gift will enable students to receive scholarships with interest from the endowment as they continue on the path to become career-ready professionals at Tusculum.
“Tusculum University played a major part in my personal life and professional development,” Wayne said. “Including TU in our estate planning gives us peace of mind to know we will be able to help deserving students continue their education at TU while relieving some of their financial burden. It also provides a way for us to leave a meaningful legacy. We are comforted in knowing our gift will live long after we are gone.”
The Wayne Eichele ’73 and Pamela A. Eichele Endowed Scholarship is particularly designed for students from a middle-class family who do not qualify for federal financial aid. The scholarship is also geared primarily toward a student majoring in education, the degree he earned from Tusculum.
Other criteria include completion of two years at Tusculum with at least a 2.5 grade-point average and demonstration of a commitment to Tusculum through involvement in social, administrative and charitable activities.
“While I did not go into the teaching field, my degree still gave me tools I needed in my professional career, which, in part, included training and development as well as many leadership roles,” Wayne said. “TU provides education majors with the best skills and abilities, which will make them successful teachers and meet the supply needs in that profession.”
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, said the thoughtfulness the Eicheles displayed will have a profound effect on future students.
“Wayne and Pamela are a delightful couple, and we are thankful to them for honoring the role Tusculum played in his life through this gift,” Dr. Hummel said. “Our alumni are key drivers in our university’s success, and we value their continued participation in the development of students who are civically engaged community members and successful in their careers. Future Pioneers who benefit from this scholarship will have an exceptional role model in the Eicheles.”
Originally from Staten Island in New York, Wayne later moved to New Jersey and was recruited to Tusculum. His years as a student were a golden era for the pipeline of students from New Jersey who chose to earn their degree from the university. After he graduated and returned to New Jersey, he met with potential students and their parents to recruit them to Tusculum.
Wayne and Pamela, who did not attend Tusculum, married in 1975 and enjoyed extensive careers in the telecommunications field, ironically as rivals. He worked for AT&T for 23 years and she served for 28 years at Sprint, and they would engage in friendly critiquing of commercials for each other’s company.
He held a number of positions for AT&T, including strategic planning manager for employee/labor relations, manager for corporate human resources policies and practices, manager of recruiting and employment, regional manager for compensation and regional manager for management staffing.
She started her career with Sprint as a directory assistance operator and became a system design engineer in the business communications division.
During the 1990s, Wayne served for several years on Tusculum’s Board of Trustees and considered that time extremely rewarding.
In 1999, the couple moved to California, where Wayne served in human resources senior executive positions for three companies and Pamela worked for 12 years in information technology for the Ventura County government.
Since being retired for 10 years, Wayne and Pamela have been enjoying travel to parts of Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. They still find the time to give back by volunteering – Wayne as a noon aide for a local elementary school for the last five years and Pamela as a three-year member of Assistance League of Ventura County, a philanthropic organization dedicated to serving the needs of underprivileged children within the community. She is serving on the board of directors as public relations chairman while also serving on various philanthropic committees within the organization.
They would love to hear from anyone from TU. Wayne can be reached at weichele02@gmail.com.
Nearly 50 years after graduation, Wayne’s years at Tusculum continue to resonate with him. He wants other alumni to reflect on the impact Tusculum has had on their lives.
“I challenge my fellow alumni to remember the kindness shown to them as students by helping those at the university who are following in their footsteps,” Wayne said. “It is important to give back to the university that contributed so much to our lives and take care of others who are in need. This can easily be accomplished through estate planning.”
Kim Kidwell, managing director of Tusculum’s Office of Institutional Advancement, said Wayne and Pamela’s creation of an endowed scholarship is a perfect example of gratitude that will have a positive influence on future generations.
“These partnerships contribute in such a meaningful way to our university’s strength and preparation of students,” Kidwell said. “Students whose ability to obtain their degree becomes possible through this scholarship will receive a head start on a higher quality of life because of Wayne and Pamela. When those students achieve great heights in their lives, they will be able to look back and thank this wonderful couple.”
To learn more about philanthropic opportunities or to discuss planned giving at Tusculum, please visit www.tusculum.edu/giving or contact Kidwell at 423-636-7303 or kkidwell@tusculum.edu.