May 20, 2025
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Woman founds WIU scholarship to remember husband

By BY Amanda

The Dennis A. Lubbs Memorial Geography Scholarship now is available at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Kathy Lubbs of Tampico (above, with Dennis before his death) funded the scholarship in her husband's memory to help graduate students with a geography major at the university. Photo submitted by Alisha Looney.

MACOMB – Kathy Lubbs of Tampico Kathy recently donated $102,750 to establish the Dennis A. Lubbs Memorial Geography Scholarship in her husband's memory at Western Illinois University.

This annual scholarship will be awarded to a graduate student majoring in geography who is active and involved within the WIU Department of Geography and, or the community. The scholarship will be renewed automatically for a second year as long as the student maintains a certain GPA and continues to major in geography.

"I believe Dennis would have wanted a scholarship funded in order to provide the opportunity for higher learning … he would have been extremely happy and perhaps a little taken aback by the attention it has received," she said in a news release.

Dennis graduated from WIU in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree and in 1974 with a Master of Arts degree, both in geography. The couple founded Genesis Nursery Inc. 26 years ago, a native prairie seed and plant supplier. The company specializes in commercial, wholesale, Iistitutional, and agricultural sales.

With Kathy, Dennis was involved in a number of conservation organizations, including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Bureau County Soil and Water Conservation District, where both served in a variety of capacities on boards and committees.

Kathy said the scholarship is intended for someone who believes in volunteerism and stewardship, the expansion and disbursement of knowledge, and the idea that knowledge and learning are not just for personal gain, but also for the greater good.

"There are not a lot of scholarships available for graduate degrees. I believe this will help provide the opportunity for students to focus on studies over the financial stress that can sometimes come with school," she said.

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