Scruggs-Ferguson Scholarship established to benefit Rowan County students
The Morehead State University Foundation is proud to announce the creation of the Scruggs-Ferguson Family Scholarship, a new fund designed to support MSU students who graduated from Rowan County Senior High School.
This endowment was made possible through a generous lead gift from Jeff (Class of 2009, 2026) and Jessi Ferguson (Class of 2011, 2012), two alumni and MSU employees who created this scholarship to honor their personal and professional MSU connections.
Born and raised in Morehead, Jeff and Jessi graduated from Rowan County Senior High School in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Jeff attended MSU, studied construction management, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2009. He worked briefly at an engineering firm in Lexington before beginning a career with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. In 2024, Jeff had the opportunity to return to his alma mater in a full-time role, taking a position as a project manager with the Office of Facilities Management as a second-generation MSU employee. Three of his four grandparents – Goebel Manning and Ray and Rosie Ferguson - also served in Facilities. Jeff also earned his Master of Science in Engineering Technology Management in 2026.
“I knew coming to work at MSU would allow me to make a visible difference,” said Jeff. “I get to work on building projects that significantly enhance the student experience.”
Jessi attended MSU and studied marketing. She completed her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing in 2011 and her Master of Business Administration in 2012. Thanks to a graduate assistantship during the MBA program, she immediately began her MSU career by moving into a full-time role with the Office of Alumni Relations & Development in 2013. A third-generation MSU employee, Jessi’s paternal grandfather, Lee Scruggs, worked in Facilities at MSU. Her mother, Jeanie Scruggs (Class of 1972, 1978), spent more than 30 years in Student Life at MSU.
The Scruggs-Ferguson Family Scholarship will support students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from Rowan County.
Jessi said creating a scholarship that supports both their high school and college alma mater is fitting.
“We are Morehead and Rowan County natives,” said Jessi. “I hope scholarship support encourages other local graduates to continue pursuing higher education at MSU.”
For more information about the Scruggs-Ferguson Family Scholarship, contact the Office of Alumni Relations & Development at alumni@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2033.
Photo: Jeff (Class of 2009, 2026) and Jessi Ferguson (Class of 2011, 2012) established the Scruggs-Ferguson Family Scholarship. Pictured here, left to right, is Jessi, their youngest daughter, Finley, Jeff and their oldest daughter, Evie.
