Winfree dedicated his career to advancing education, history and community engagement. He served as vice president of the Marshall University Graduate College and later as executive director of the Historic Glenwood Foundation. In that role, he championed a public-private partnership with Marshall’s Graduate Humanities Program, strengthening opportunities for students and faculty alike.
In 2014, Winfree helped launch the Glenwood Center for Scholarship in the Humanities, expanding support for research on the Glenwood estate, the history of Charleston and the Appalachian region. He took great pride in mentoring Graduate Humanities students and fostering their research and creative projects.
“Kemp Winfree’s vision and leadership continue to inspire our work,” said Dr. Luke Eric Lassiter, director of the Graduate Humanities program. “Through this scholarship, we can carry forward his commitment to education and community by investing in the next generation of scholars.”
The Kemp W. Winfree Memorial Scholarship will provide up to $2,500 per year for up to two years to students pursuing a Master of Arts in Humanities. Preference will be given to projects connected to the Glenwood estate, local and regional history or Glenwood’s broader mission of education and outreach.
“This scholarship unites Winfree’s passions for both Glenwood and higher education,” said Marla Griffith, executive director of the Historic Glenwood Foundation. “Remembering him this way ensures that those passions, as well as his spirit of mentorship, will continue to inspire and influence future generations.”
Applications will open each spring semester, with recipients announced by semester’s end and funding beginning in the fall. Supporters who wish to honor Winfree’s legacy by contributing to the scholarship fund may contact the Director of the Graduate Humanities Program at Marshall University.