The UNC Asheville Athletic Department recently received a generous athletic scholarship from former Board of Trustee member and retired radiologist Dr. Luther Barnhardt and his wife, Ruth Barnhardt.
 
The Ruth and Luther Barnhardt Scholarship will go to either a rising junior or senior student-athlete. The Barnhardts see their scholarship as an investment.

“Ruth and I do not see our scholarship as a "gift" to a student,” said Dr. Barnhardt. “We see our scholarship as an "investment"--an investment in a life.  We want to "invest" in someone with a high probability of graduating. We want the student in whom we are "investing" to be one who appreciates the opportunities that UNC Asheville gives him or her for an outstanding Liberal Arts education and a student who wants to be a contributing member of society--whether that be as a home maker, CEO, educator, lawyer, doctor, banker, musician, politician, or any other profession or avocation.

We established the "The Ruth and Luther Barnhardt Scholarship" several years ago and it has been awarded until now as a partial scholarship for an incoming UNC Asheville freshman.”

Dr. Barnhardt continues. "I knew from having had several in-depth conversations with Athletic Director Janet Cone that the Athletic Department has a strong focus on academics, leadership, and graduation.  With that in mind, Ruth and I decided to shift our scholarship from being awarded to a freshman to being awarded to a junior or senior student athlete. The scholarship will be awarded each year by Financial Aid with the advice and recommendation of the Athletic Director.  The student must show academic promise and have demonstrated a sense of social responsibility, either through campus service and/or community service. The student must be committed to graduating from UNC Asheville. We are looking for a student who has the potential to make a difference in this troubled world and who appreciates the opportunities he or she is being given at UNC Asheville."

Athletics Director Janet Cone is delighted in the investment taken by Dr. Barnhardt and his wife.

“On behalf of our student athletes, we are thankful for this investment by Dr. Barnhardt and his wife,” declared Cone. “The Barnhardts’ support enables us to provide a rewarding academic and athletic experience for our student athletes.”

Dr. Barnhardt is a graduate of Duke Medical School. He had his residency training in Radiology at UNC Chapel Hill. Ruth Barnhardt is also a graduate of Duke University. 

“I feel personally very strongly about scholarships,” stated Barnhardt. “I was the recipient of an Angier B. Duke Scholarship.  Without that "investment" in me, I would not have been able to attend Duke University. It made a significant difference in my life and Ruth and I hope that our scholarship will make a difference in the life of a UNC Asheville student athlete.”

Dr. Barnhardt and his wife were awarded the Chancellor’s Medallion by Dr. Anne Ponder in 2006. It is UNC Asheville's highest non-academic award.  The medallion is given at the discretion of the chancellor to pay homage to individuals who demonstrate the highest commitment to community service, public leadership, and enhancement of the University.
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>“We have double-loyalty with Chapel Hill and Duke but we consider UNC Asheville to be our adopted University.” declared Barnhardt. " We are extremely fortunate to have the designated liberal arts university of the University of North Carolina system here in Asheville and Ruth and I are happy that we can participate in this small way in 'investing' in the future of a UNC Asheville student athlete."