Craven Endowment Supports Study Abroad
Family members of Anita Craven gather behind a table featuring a picture of Anita.
A gift to Emory & Henry from the family of the late Anita Craven, a member of the E&H Class of 1978, will provide study-abroad opportunities for E&H students.
The gift, which was made by Anita’s sister, Laura Craven Duncan (E&H Class of 1984) on behalf of the Craven family, creates the Anita Craven Memorial Endowment in support of students who require financial assistance to participate in study abroad experiences.
Anita Craven, who graduated with a degree in French and a minor in German, often remarked that her study abroad trip to France as an E&H student was a life-changing experience. During a recent signing ceremony creating the endowment, members of Anita’s family expressed their desire to ensure that future generations of E&H students have the opportunity for similar experiences.
“Today, I do not doubt, my sister would be no less honored to know that we have come together to not only recognize and honor her, but to begin the process of enabling others to discover a passion she found at Emory – that of being immersed in the language and culture of another country,” Laura said.
In addition to members of Anita’s family, the ceremony was attended by several of her college friends as well as E&H employees and students.
Among the students was Rayce Lamb, a history and social science major from Hendersonville, N.C., who studied abroad one semester in New Zealand. He praised the Craven family for its generosity and spoke of how his time abroad helped him choose his career path. “I really think my calling now is international education,” he said.
Dave Haney, the E&H vice president for academic affairs, said the Anita Craven Memorial Endowment has a powerful impact at Emory & Henry, which is making significant strides in international education and study abroad. “This generous gift comes at a great time for us and for doing something very important.”
Anita Craven came to Emory & Henry from Boone, N.C. A highly active honor student, Anita won the French Department Award her senior year in recognition of her leadership, promise and academic achievement. Within two years after her graduation, she completed her master’s degree in accounting (summa cum laude) at Appalachian State University and passed her CPA examination during her first sitting.
She was named Young Alumnus of the Year at Emory & Henry and ASU for her entrepreneurial work as the comptroller of Salem Vent Company in Salem, Va. Her career was marked by innovation and creativity as she practiced public accounting in both the private and public sectors. At the time of her death, she had her own private practice.
At the time of her sudden passing in May 2010 at the age of 53 in Jackson, Miss., she was survived by her mother; her sister; and three brothers, David, Brian and Paul (David has since passed). She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, John.
