Asbury donors, students, and leaders gather April 30 to mark a transformative step toward debt-free graduation
Asbury University celebrated a major milestone on April 30 with a reception at Windsor Manor honoring the launch of its Student No Debt Fund Initiative. Faculty, donors, and student recipients gathered to celebrate distribution of more than $270,000 worth of grants for the Dayton School of Business (DSB), with plans to expand across all majors in the future. Beginning in spring 2026, selected students at AU graduate with their college debt fully paid, marking a bold step toward increased affordability and long-term student success.
This initiative matters because it removes financial barriers and empowers graduates to pursue their calling without the burden of debt.
Through the extraordinary generosity of donors, Asbury University can offer new forms of student value and aggressive affordability through the Student No Debt Fund Initiative.”
“This initiative is one of the most unique in the country, which is very exciting as a university that seeks to be ‘set apart.’ I am eager for the days ahead!”
The program offers financial relief and holistically shapes students. Students can unlock the opportunity to apply for the fund by meeting academic, co-curricular, mentorship, and philanthropic requirements designed to strengthen both their biblical worldview and financial literacy.
By removing the burden of college debt, graduates should be better able to live out the concepts of serving others, stewarding their finances through a biblical approach to giving, saving, and spending, and living out their calling in their selected vocation.”
During the reception, AU recognized its first cohort of No Debt Fund recipients: Hagan Webb ’26 (Danville, Ky.), a Finance major now working with First Southern National Bank; Josh McNulty ’26 (Cincinnati, Ohio), a Sport Management major and four-year baseball player preparing for a career in event management; Josiah Wehling ’26 (Powder Springs, Ga.), a Business Administration major planning to support ministry-focused business ventures in Africa; and Maris Wainright ’26 (Port Orange, Fla.), an Accounting major and student-athlete stepping into a role in marketing sponsorship within the insurance industry.
Additional recipients included Morgan Miller ’26 (Warsaw, Ky.), a Marketing major pursuing full-time opportunities in the field; Nathan Gabbard ’26 (Lexington, Ky.), a Business Administration major preparing for ministry and sales work in Texas; Retta Wheeler ’26 (Nicholasville, Ky.), an Accounting major continuing into graduate studies; Zach Fazio ’26 (Taylorsville, Ky.), a Finance major entering a leadership role with plans for law school; and Zoe Bobb ’26 (Cambodia/Merritt Island, Fla.), a Marketing major beginning her career at Alltech’s global headquarters.
Asbury’s broader commitment to student support continues to grow, with its endowment doubling over the past decade and a significant portion dedicated to scholarships. Students unlock the opportunity to apply by participating in academic, co-curricular, mentoring, and philanthropy activities.
To learn more about the Student No Debt Fund Initiative or how to support it, contact the Asbury University Office of Advancement at advancement@asbury.edu.