Early Bird

Crossing the finish line

Alumnus Travis Luther establishes endowed scholarship to support readmitted Roadrunners.

By Lynne Winter ’17

March 3, 2021

Imagine being within a few credit hours of earning your degree, only to have an unanticipated financial hurdle block your path, requiring you to put your dream of graduating temporarily or even permanently on hold.

Metropolitan State University of Denver alumnus Travis Luther, ’08, founder and CEO of Queen Anne Pillow Co., is determined to do what he can to ensure that fellow Roadrunners can get back in the race and cross the finish line.

“Financial issues are forcing students to choose between completing their education and taking care of themselves and their families,” said Luther, who is also an MSU Denver Alumni Association board member. “I also know education is a key tool in breaking free from financial hardship, so I wanted to help bridge the gap.”

With that in mind, Luther and his wife, lawyer Sommer Luther, started building a philanthropic family legacy with the establishment of the Luther Family Finish Line Endowment. The gift supports a scholarship designed to support readmitted Roadrunners who are within two semesters of completing a bachelor’s degree and are enrolled in at least six credit hours.

“Having had a similar experience while earning my bachelor’s degree, I wanted to try to make life a little easier for students who can’t afford to complete the final credits standing between them earning a degree and entering the workforce,” he said.

As a business owner, Luther says he benefits from a talented pool of applicants to draw from when hiring, so he doesn’t want to lose out on good people because they couldn’t complete their degree.

“I want to see all of us come out of the last year’s struggles successfully, and we can only recover if we have strong job candidates out in the field,” he said. “When Roadrunners graduate, they bring new talent to Colorado’s workforce.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’m committed – come hell or high water – to supporting MSU Denver students.”

The first scholarships from the endowment will likely be awarded in spring 2022.

For more information about the Luther Family Finish Line Endowment, contact Allyssa Joseph, associate director of development.