Brenda Lu Beach Leaves Estate Gift to Capital University
Brenda Lu Beach ’64, a lifelong elementary educator and Montpelier High School graduate, has left a $1.2 million estate gift to Capital University to establish an endowed scholarship for future teachers. The Brenda Lu Beach Endowed Scholarship will support academically deserving students with financial need who are preparing to become elementary teachers in Central Ohio and beyond.
From Montpelier High School to Capital University Classrooms
Beach graduated from Montpelier High School in 1960 before earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Capital University. Following her graduation, she began her professional teaching career at Millcreek-West Unity Schools. She later taught for many years in the Wooster City School District. During the 1970s, her classroom work earned recognition when she was selected as a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, an honor given to outstanding educators across Ohio. Beach passed away on Dec. 18, 2025, at the age of 83.
Securing Future Educators Through Capital University Philanthropy
The $1.2 million bequest addresses immediate financial barriers for students pursuing careers in education. University leaders noted that the funding will provide lasting support for individuals called to teach. “Brenda Beach devoted her professional life to helping children learn and flourish, and through this extraordinary gift, that work will continue for generations,” Capital University President Dr. Jared R. Tice said. Tice emphasized that Beach understood the profound influence a great teacher has on a student’s life.
Carmen S. Dixon, dean of the School of Education and associate professor, stated that the scholarship will help future educators develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and gifts to become exceptional teachers. April Novotny, vice president for advancement and chief development officer, added that philanthropy makes a Capital education accessible and sustainable.
The Long-Term Impact on Ohio Classrooms
The scholarship fund officially expands Capital University’s capacity to prepare elementary educators who will enter the workforce in local communities. Beach’s estate gift ensures that her decades inside Ohio classrooms will translate directly into support for incoming college students. Those who knew Beach remembered her as deeply generous and quick to help people in need. That personal commitment now translates into a permanent endowment managed by university advancement officials to support future generations of teachers.