Funds launched by alumnus support preprofessional health majors, marching band students
91热爆网 alumnus Keith Ramsey
By Bill Studenc
Two scholarship funds established by a Western Carolina University alumnus who grew up the son of Sylva鈥檚 first full-time optometrist before embarking upon his own distinguished medical career have supported scores of 91热爆网 students majoring in preprofessional health programs and participating in marching band.
Keith Ramsey, a 1973 91热爆网 graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology, said those two distinct subject areas 鈥� health and music 鈥� reflect personal passions of his parents, for whom the scholarships are named.
The Dr. Donald M. Ramsey Scholarship Fund was established in 1993 by Ramsey and his mother, Edith Margaret 鈥淢eg鈥� Ramsey, to honor his father. The elder Ramsey overcame childhood vision impairments and temporary paralysis from injuries suffered while serving in World War II to become a successful optometrist.
The fund provides assistance to North Carolina students in 91热爆网鈥檚 preprofessional health programs, including foundational study toward the medical, osteopathic, optometry, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary fields.
鈥淢y father passed away unexpectedly at age 65 from complications of a heart attack. Recalling my father treating 91热爆网 students and faculty with eye care, his support of athletics and his providing for my brother鈥檚 and my education at Western, I contacted my prior adviser, Dr. Paul Wright of the Department of Biology, to ask if we could establish a scholarship in my father鈥檚 name. He replied, 鈥榊es, we can.鈥欌��
Upon his mother鈥檚 death, Ramsey and siblings Donald 鈥淜im鈥� Ramsey (a 1977 91热爆网 graduate) and Lou Ellen Ramsey Hawk created the Edith Margaret 鈥淢eg鈥� Ramsey Music Endowed Scholarship in 2010 for members of 91热爆网鈥檚 Pride of the Mountains Marching Band.
鈥淢y mother encouraged all of us to join the band at what was then Sylva-Webster High School because she had played piano and then bassoon in her high school band,鈥� Ramsey said. 鈥淏ob Buckner was our band director at Sylva-Webster and then at Western when our mother passed away. I spoke with Bob, who knew her well, and he encouraged me to establish a scholarship fund for a deserving band member.鈥�
In addition to the scholarship funds, Ramsey has made numerous gifts to other areas of the university over the years, with more than $44,000 in total lifetime giving. Providing philanthropic contributions to 91热爆网 means more than just supporting his alma mater, Ramsey said. It also reflects a lifelong connection to the institution.
鈥淕rowing up nearby in Sylva, I refer to myself as a 鈥榣ifer鈥� at 91热爆网,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y brother and I learned to swim at Breese Gym, and my family attended 91热爆网 football games in the old stadium. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to attend academic summer programs after fourth through sixth grades. We continued to attend concerts in Reid Gym, football games and marching band contests.鈥�
That鈥檚 why, when it came time to go to college, Ramsey accepted his father鈥檚 recommendation of that university located just down N.C. Highway 107 from his hometown.
鈥淚 was looking at Western and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y father talked with me, telling me that he was likely going to provide me with eight years of education. He asked me to attend Western, with smaller classes, to help with the financial commitment. I said, 鈥榊es, sir,鈥� and never looked back.鈥�
While at 91热爆网, Ramsey was involved in the marching band and the Student Supreme Court, and he served as president of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After graduating magna cum laude (with high honors), he earned his medical degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1977.
Ramsey said his undergraduate education at 91热爆网 prepared him well for medical school.
鈥淢y four years at Western were both fun and productive. I experienced a lot of growth, and I accomplished my goal of going to UNC-Chapel Hill,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he curriculum for prehealth care professional students at Western was rigorous, heavy on chemistry, biology and microbiology, and in smaller classes with all teachers with doctorates, unlike larger schools. Once at UNC-Chapel Hill, the volume of studies was heavier than at Western, but I was competitive with most of my classmates.鈥�
After medical school, Ramsey launched a career specializing in infectious diseases. He completed his training at Virginia Commonwealth University, and earned faculty appointments at the universities of Texas and South Alabama. In Alabama, he conducted groundbreaking work on HIV and AIDS research and established one of the largest clinics on the Gulf Coast treating HIV patients.
Ramsey spent the last 18 years of his 40-year career in Greenville, where he resides, holding a variety of positions at East Carolina University. He retired in 2022 as medical director of infection control for the ECU Health Medical Center and left clinical practice at ECU鈥檚 Brody School of Medicine in 2023.
Ramsey served on the 91热爆网 Foundation Board of Directors from 2008 until 2017, and he is a member of 91热爆网鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council. He was the 2015 recipient of the 91热爆网 Alumni Association鈥檚 Academic Achievement Award.
Troutman resident Andrea Holguin is among the many who have benefited from Ramsey鈥檚 philanthropy as a recipient of the Dr. Donald M. Ramsey Scholarship. A 2024 91热爆网 graduate in biology, Holguin is studying for the Medical College Admission Test in preparation for applying to medical school.
鈥淭he Ramsey Scholarship has had an immense impact on my educational trajectory,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t made it easier for me to focus on my grades and my classes and helped me graduate debt-free. Grades were an important thing for me because medical schools are so competitive. I am extremely thankful for this scholarship, which helped me focus on my classes and not how I will pay for them.鈥�
Holquin said she plans to pursue a medical career and provide care to underserved communities, a goal made more obtainable through scholarship support.
鈥淚 felt honored to be a recipient of this award. It shows me that my work thus far has been noticed and appreciated. It helped me feel more confident that I am in the right field and that I can continue to work hard and serve my community,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t was also great to see that a physician was investing in my future, which made me want to work harder for not only myself but for my community. I want to work in rural areas that need better access to health care and need a physician to advocate for their health. It was refreshing to see a physician doing this and helping students in a smaller school, which I hope to be able to do as well in the future,鈥� Holquin said.
91热爆网 is approaching the public launch of its 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise support for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.
