On Tuesday, February 18, benefactors and recipients gathered for the annual Endowment Scholarship Fund Luncheon. During the program, Amber’s family members Lance (brother), Jack ’73 (father), and Nancy Tretter (aunt and Godmother), shared the story of Amber and the goal of the Amber Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Amber grew up in Northern Kentucky, graduating from Dixie Heights High School in 1993 and from Thomas More with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, in 1997. Amber lost her battle with a cancerous brain tumor at the very young age of 26. The family felt the best way to honor such an outstanding young woman was by creating a scholarship at Thomas More in her memory. The first Amber Johnson Endowed Scholarship was awarded in 2004, and since then, more than $118,000 has been distributed to 18 students. 

Funding for the scholarship has grown to exceed $420,000 thanks to the Amber Johnson Memorial Golf Outing established in 2003 by family and friends. The outing held on the third Friday of each July. It celebrates the love felt by so many whose lives Amber touched during her short time on earth. Lance explained, “Our family and friends are devoted to keeping Amber’s scholarship fund going. We thank the donors and supporters and the recipients for all their hard work.”

Thank you to the following groups and individuals for supporting Thomas More students through endowed scholarships:

Bishop Richard H. Ackerman Scholarship

Catherine T. Adams Scholarship Fund

Alpha Delta Gamma Scholarship

Charles B. Baron Scholarship

Dr. Charles J. Bensman Endowment Fund

Arthur M. Bettman Memorial Scholarship Fund

Charles B’Hymer Memorial Scholarship Fund

Borland Family Endowment

Harold C. Borne Memorial Scholarship Fund

Raymond J. & Ruth Breiner Memorial Education Grant

Nancy Bruns Scholarship Fund

Sr. Camilla Cahill, C.D.P. Scholarship

Greg Cleves Memorial Scholarship

Joseph F. & Anita Connelly Scholarship Fund

Coach Jim and Mary Connor Scholarship Fund

Dr. Sandra Cuni Memorial Scholarship Fund

Barbara Sturm Davis Scholarship

Clemens B. & Cedora Deters Scholarship Fund

David C. Diedrich Endowed Scholarship

Drama Alumni Scholarship Fund

Ernst & Young Scholarship

Florence Fister Scholarship Fund

Sr. Mary Eleanor Fox, S.N.D. Scholarship Fund

Ambrose and Emma Germann Scholarship Fund

Pat Gieske Nursing Scholarship Fund

Betty Gross Memorial Scholarship Fund

Thomas & Juanita (Ziegler) Hanna Memorial Fund

Msgr. Alford Hanses Scholarship Endowment Fund

Dr. Raymond Hebert Scholarship Fund

Edwin B. Heile Family Trust

Fr. Heile Estate Scholarship

Msgr. Hillenmeyer Award Fund – Fort Thomas

Msgr. Hillenmeyer Scholarship – Lexington

Raymond & Marcella Holbrook Scholarship

Home City Ice Scholarship Endowment

Bishop Hughes Scholarship Fund

Dr. Carroll A. and Carol Walsh Jansen Family Endowment

Amber Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund

Sr. M. Julitta, S.N.D. Memorial Scholarship Fund

Kohrs Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mitch Kramer Memorial Scholarship Fund

K-Scholarship Fund

Jack LaVelle Scholarship Fund

Karen Lueke-Horrall Scholarship Fund

James D. Lyon Memorial Scholarship Fund

Michigan Fine Arts Grant

Anne Marie Mielech Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ralph E. Mills Endowed Scholarship

Mitchell Family Pre-Law Scholarship

Charles P. Moriarity Memorial Scholarship

Morow Family Scholarship Fund

Msgr. John F. Murphy Award

LCPL Adam D. Peak Memorial Scholarship

Krystal L. Pepper Memorial Scholarship Fund

Pflum/Klausmeier/Gehrum Grant

Elmer & Blanche Pieper Scholarship

Providence Hospital Nursing Scholarship

Remke Family Scholarship Fund

George A. Renaker (M.D.) Scholarship Fund

Clarence & Angela Rice Scholarship Fund

Louis & Carol Ruthemeyer Scholarship

William H. & Marcella C. Saelinger Presidential Scholarship

George & Gertrude Scheper; Charles & Loretta Zimmer Scholarship Fund

Schleper Scholarship Fund

Joe and Ginnie Schmidt Scholarship

Msgr. Schuler Memorial Scholarship Endowed Fund

Lena Seiler Scholarship Fund

Seligman Family Scholarship Fund

Robert E. Smith Pre-Med Scholarship

Sommerkamp Family Scholarship Fund

St. Anthony Scholarship – Saint Paul

St. Anthony Scholarship – Saints Peter & Paul

Sr. Margaret Stallmeyer President’s Access Grant

Ann Taylor Endowment

Lisa Taylor Endowed Scholarship Fund

Thomas More Booster Endowed Scholarship Fund

Thomas More University Memorial Scholarship Fund

Marcus W. Thomas Environmental Science Scholarship Fund

Matth. & LaVerne Toebben Scholarship Fund

John & Paulina Tschofen History Scholarship Fund

Utopia Scholarship Fund

Sis VonLehman Scholarship Fund

Wambaugh Family Scholarship Fund

Edward M. Wessendarp Scholarship Fund

Charles L. Wildman Memorial Scholarship Fund

Florence & Laura Wolfzorn Scholarship Fund

Joseph & Kathryn Wolfzorn Scholarship Fund

Women’s Guild of Thomas More University Scholarship Fund

Wong Endowed Scholarship Fund

Anthony R. Zembrodt Chemistry Scholarship Fund

Wilbert L. & Anna M. Ziegler Scholarship Fund

Isabel Zimmer Memorial Scholarship