John Paul and Leslie Blair

Leslie and John Paul established this fund in 1997 to celebrate the five year anniversaries of their marriage and WKU graduation and to pay forward the generous scholarship support and mentoring they received from the College Heights Foundation (CHF).

Both Leslie’s and John Paul’s WKU journeys began in the College Heights Foundation through appointments on their initial campus visit with former WKU and CHF Presidents Dr. Dero Downing and Dr. Kelly Thompson followed by a personal tour. In addition to this firsthand experience with the ‘WKU Spirit’, their subsequent CHF scholarship aid, Leslie’s student work experiences as a CHF employee, and John Paul’s mentoring sessions with Drs. Downing and Thompson, helped build a solid foundation during their time on ‘the Hill’.

Following their May, 1992 WKU graduation, Leslie and John Paul married July 11, Leslie began her teaching career in Taylor County (Campbellsville, KY) Elementary School and John Paul began work as Campbellsville University’s Director of Development. Five years later, they returned “home” to Bowling Green where she taught in Warren County Schools first for Rich Pond Elementary for four years later as a part of the inaugural faculty for Briarwood Elementary School. While at Rich Pond, Leslie was awarded ‘Teacher of the Year’ and, to date, she is the first and only ‘Teacher of the Year’ recipient in Briarwood’s history. She has also received the Warren County Public Schools’ Golden Apple Award for dedication to students.

Since 1997, John Paul has helped lead WKU’s fundraising efforts and campaigns. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Kentucky chapter made him the youngest ever recipient of the ‘Beth K. Fields Service Award’ for “years of dedication and service to both higher education and the institutional advancement profession, and for unprecedented success in fund raising.” He has been a part of more than 50 CASE awards during his career.

Leslie holds a master’s degree from Campbellsville University and John Paul a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. They have two children-John Robert and Margaret Grace.