Rucks Family $50,000 Gift Establishes Scholarship for Education Students at UERead full article…

Posted: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
By: Ian Leonhardt, Advancement Communications Coordinator

The University of Evansville (UE) has received a $50,000 planned gift from the late Gerald L. Rucks and Carol A. Rucks '64, creating an endowed scholarship fund to support future educators.

The Carol (Umbach) and Gerald Rucks Endowed Scholarship Fund for Education Students will assist those pursuing degrees in education and, when possible, history majors or minors with a demonstrated commitment to service.

Carol (Umbach) Rucks, an Evansville native, graduated from F.J. Reitz High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at UE in 1964. During her college years, she was active in Beta Sigma Omicron sorority and formed friendships that lasted throughout her life. The education she received at UE prepared her for a distinguished career as an educator and reading specialist in Hinsdale, Illinois, where she became known for her dedication to literacy and student success.

Gerald "Jerry" Rucks, who shared nearly 50 years of marriage with Carol, was a U.S. Army veteran whose career spanned business, teaching, and public service. He managed his family's dry-cleaning business, taught electronics, and later worked at the Illinois Unemployment Office. Known for his fairness and compassion, Jerry also devoted time to community organizations. After retiring, the couple moved to Tucson, Arizona, where they remained active in civic and cultural life through groups such as the Sons of Norway, with Jerry serving as treasurer and Carol as a board member.

The couple's planned gift underscores their lifelong belief in the power of education. "Carol and Jerry Rucks understood the power of education to shape lives, communities, and futures," said Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, UE president. "Through their generous gift, they are creating a lasting impact that will inspire students to lead with purpose, serve with compassion, and carry forward the spirit of changemaking that defines the University of Evansville."

The Rucks' journey from Evansville to Illinois to Arizona was marked by service, humility, and generosity. Their legacy will now endure through the scholarship that bears their names and through the students whose education it supports.