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Coy Powell, principal at Eastview Elementary School, was instrumental in creating the Fayette County School Corporation Education Endowment. Through his legacy of helping to create the endowment and generous giving the Education Endowment grants thousands of dollars to local schools for special projects. Coy was born February 3, 1948 in Oneida, Kentucky to Roscoe A. and Emma Mae Murrell Powell, both of whom preceded him in death. He gradated from Oneida Baptist Institute, where he met his future wife, Bettie J. Queener, whom he married on June 16, 1967. Coy earned a Bachelors of Science from Cumberland College and was recruited to teach Fourth Grade at Grandview Elementary School. After 9 years at Grandview, he became the principal of Alquina and Waterloo Schools, and later moved to Eastview Elementary for the duration of his 37-year educational career.  Coy was a member of First United Methodist Church, Warren Lodge #15 F. & A.M., the Connersville Lions Club, and the Fayette County School Board. He enjoyed being a grandfather, golfing, watching stock car racing, and working in his yard, especially in his tomatoes.

Research shows that on average, teachers spend $800 of their own money for “extras” to enhance their student’s learning experience.  The opportunity to ease that burden is annually made available through the Fayette County Education Endowment. Established in 1997 to support the objectives of the Fayette County School Board, the Education Endowment is available to provide financial support for educational activities and projects for which funds are not readily available from the school corporation or other sources. Since this Endowment’s creation it has continued to be one the Community Foundation’s fastest growing endowments.  Initially the endowment was started with $2,500 and was matched dollar for dollar from the Community Foundation.  Bi-monthly payroll deductions from teachers, support staff, bus drivers, and administrators have enabled the Endowment to exceed $100,000 in just a decade.  In addition to teachers and support staff, the school corporation worked to earmark education license plates reimbursement to the county to be applied to the endowment and exclusively using Coke Cola at all of the schools has allowed for cash incentives.  The goal of the Education Fund is to reach approximately $500,000 where it will be self sustaining without additional donations.