VCU's education school has received its largest donation

RICHMOND — A retired professor in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education has given the school its largest single donation in its history.

Elise Blankenship pledged a $1.75 million estate gift to the school, which will give scholarships to full-time upper-level and graduate students.

The university said the donation will be added to the Jean E. Lokerson and M. Elise Blankenship Endowed Scholarship in Education. Blankenship created that scholarship fund on behalf of Jean Lokerson, emerita associate professor at the school and a friend of Blankenship.

“We are honored and thrilled to receive this generous gift from Elise Blankenship on behalf of Jean,” said Andrew Daire, dean of the VCU School of Education, in a statement. “Through this fund, we will keep their dream alive to teach the teachers of the future so they can transform the lives of those we serve in our communities.”