People appreciate things more when they work for them. That was Harley E. Huddle Sr.'s motto.
A passionate inventor, Harley enjoyed the struggle for success. He developed the first machine to automatically clean aluminum cans during the manufacturing process, held several patents and launched his engineering business in the wake of World War II.
And he attributed his accomplishments to his University of Kentucky education. It gave the 1941 mechanical engineering graduate the foundation to think critically and to explore new ideas.
To honor his work and memory, his family created the Harley E. Huddle Sr. Scholarship Fund for College of Engineering students. It is funded, in part, by his wife Dorothy's charitable remainder trust, which provided her income until her death last year and then established an endowed scholarship in her husband's name.
"My father always talked about Kentucky and his years at UK," said Gail Bagnoli, his daughter. "We thought he would like that UK students were benefiting from his success. We were also pleased that our mother chose an effective way to make such a meaningful gift."
Supporting students is especially critical right now. The average engineering student has $9,473 in unmet need—the amount the student owes after federal, state and institutional aid, scholarships and grants are applied. Though more than 70 percent of UK engineering students complete an internship or co-op during school and nearly 75 percent secure employment immediately after graduation, many graduate with significant student debt.
"Gifts like the Huddles' free our students to focus on building the skills and knowledge they need to be successful," said Rudy Buchheit, College of Engineering dean. "It enables our graduates to seize new opportunities and to follow their dreams and interests rather than accepting a job strictly out of financial need.
"I am deeply grateful for the tremendous impact this fund will have on the college for generations to come," Rudy continued. "Gift planning, like what was carefully done by the Huddle family, can be a critical part of balancing tax planning and family interests and leaving a significant legacy of philanthropy. I encourage all of our alumni and friends to consider discussing charitable planning with our UK Philanthropy team of experts."
Start planning your UK legacy. Contact Gift and Estate Planning at 859-257-7886 or giftandestate@uky.edu.