New Dillard Endowed Scholarship Named After Former University President Michael Lomax

From Dillard University:

September 15, 2020

NEW ORLEANS — Dillard University is one of six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to benefit from a scholarship endowed by the PeyBack Foundation, an organization founded by native New Orleanian and future NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. The foundation
has created and endowed the Dr. Michael Lomax PeyBack Endowed Scholarship to Dillard. The scholarship is named for Dillard’s fifth president and it will be awarded to students who demonstrate financial need while completing their bachelor’s degrees.

“We are grateful to Peyton and Ashley Manning for their generous gift to Dillard University,” said Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, president of Dillard. “As a New Orleanian, Peyton knows Dillard's value in the community and nation. Having it named for Dr. Lomax is a nice touch to a great scholarship gift.”

“I have always known that Peyton Manning is a great athlete. Now I know that he is a great and generous human being,” said Dr. Lomax, current president of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). “I want to thank Peyton for endowing a scholarship in my name at Dillard and including me in an all-star lineup of HBCU sports and academic greats whose names are also on HBCU scholarships, including Grambling (State’s) Doug Williams, Tennessee State’s Wilma Rudolph, Southern’s Harold Carmichael, Fisk’s Dr. Reavis L. Mitchell and Xavier’s President Emeritus Norman Francis,” he continued.

“There is no greater honor or reward than having my name on a scholarship that will
help generations of HBCU students realize their dreams of a college education.”

When asked about the scholarship by ESPN, Manning shared that he hopes his foundation’s philanthropic efforts can be sustained for years to come.

“The PeyBack Foundation is honored to partner with these six colleges to honor distinguished Alumni and staff members, and to help college students at these schools now and many years to come. Really, for perpetuity,” Manning shared with the sports media outlet.

The PeyBack Foundation promotes the success of disadvantaged youth. According to its website, the Foundation has provided millions of dollars in scholarships and grants to businesses and nonprofits in Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana.

This press release was produced by Dillard University. The views expressed are the author's own.