Troy FarmHouse Establishes Matthew Spencer Awbrey Memorial Endowed Scholarship

This past summer, Troy University revealed the five new endowed foundation scholarships that will be offered for the 2024-25 school year. Found in the University’s Scholarship portal, these five scholarships total over $3,500 in money for students who meet the listed requirements and prerequisites.

One of the new scholarships listed will hold a special place in the Alpha Pi Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity at Troy University this year. Initially mentioned by Jessi Dansby, Troy University’s Donor Relations Specialist, the University is partnering with FarmHouse to offer the Matthew Spencer Awbrey FarmHouse Memorial Endowed Scholarship for the 2024-25 year.

The scholarship, established by Jodi and James Wells, will provide an annual $1,000 scholarship to a Farmhouse Fraternity member who maintains a 2.7 GPA and meets eligibility requirements of the fraternity.

“We hope this scholarship will assist other students to meet their financial needs while in college. It is often difficult for students and their families to juggle the expenses of both school and Greek life, and the hope is that with this scholarship, students who receive it can feel a bit of relief in that area,” Jodi Wells said. “We know that Matthew’s memory and legacy will live on through this for the students who are awarded the scholarship.”

Wells, a TROY alumna with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, said the Awbreys were just like family. Matthew and the Wells’ oldest son, Andrew, hit it off at five or six years of age and the families remained close from then on. Andrew and Matthew later pledged to FarmHouse last fall after graduating from Opelika High School as part of the Class of 2023.

“Over the years, our families spent time together on and off the soccer field and my husband and I considered Matthew as one of our boys. I also serve as a part of the leadership team for our church youth group and Matthew and Andrew were involved in every activity offered there. I was privileged to work with Matthew for seven years while he was in the youth group. Those years consisted of many, many service projects, mission trips and leadership camps together.”

In remembrance of Matthew, the brothers of FarmHouse decided to support the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention for their ‘24 Philanthropy Week, and raised over $30,000, a chapter-record, while still being added as part of the 2023-2024 Chapter Composite.

“Matthew’s time at TROY may have been short but during that time he built a circle of wonderful friends both in his fraternity and at the Wesley Foundation. He was so loved and there is no doubt he will always be remembered,” Wells added. “Our hope is that his name and legacy will carry on to future Trojans through this scholarship.”

For brothers that have maintained a 2.7 GPA and meet eligibility requirements of the fraternity, they are encouraged to apply for the scholarship by August 1. For the brother that is chosen as the scholarship recipient, he is required to write a thank you letter to the donor and must attend the scholarship donor and recipient reception held each March.