Murray State’s Hutson School of Agriculture has announced the establishment of the Clara Gilliam Fund for Excellence, named after the daughter of MSU alumni Jerry and Julie Gilliam of Christian County.
According to a post on the Murray State University Alumni Facebook page, Julie is an Agriculture teacher at Todd County Central High School and Clara is a student at North Todd County Elementary School. Jerry serves as a magistrate on Christian County Fiscal Court and is employed by AgQuest in Hopkinsville.
The fund was made possible by a generous gift from Christian County farmers Joseph and Lisa Sisk. The Clara Gilliam Fund of Excellence supports the development of the Murray State Center for Agricultural Hemp and the growing of hemp and the CBD industry. Diagnosed with Aicardi syndrome, which causes seizures and hinders the ability to move and communicate, officials say Clara has seen an improved quality of life under her CBD treatment plan. Now 6 years old, Clara was not expected to live past the age of 4.
Jerry says as graduates of the Murray State agriculture program, he and his wife are humbled and blessed by this donation from the Sisks to establish the fund in honor of their daughter Clara. He adds they are hopeful that through this funding, the research and development of hemp at MSU through the Center can continue to help Clara and others through the development of hemp and hemp-related opportunities.
The Center for Agricultural Hemp has announced several different giving levels to support the fund and the Center. Anyone interested in making a gift is encouraged to contact Abby Hensley at ahensley2@murraystate.edu.
