Kay Lockridge

From the moment she stepped onto Miami University’s campus, Kay Lockridge ’61, felt a quiet certainty that this was where she belonged, “I was encouraged by my high school teacher, who knew my passion for journalism, and my mother. It was here, in the heart of campus, that I found my second home.” The newsroom of The Miami Student became a place where late nights turned into early mornings, where ideas were sharpened by debate, and where she first felt the thrill of chasing a story that mattered.

That passion never faded. It carried her through a remarkable career in journalism, from reporting for the Associated Press to guiding young journalists in classrooms at Syracuse and Michigan State University. Even after she and her beloved partner, photojournalist Roslyn Pulitzer, moved to New Mexico, Kay remained devoted to the craft. She continued to write, to listen, and to uncover the stories that defined people and places.

For much of her life, Kay made annual donations to different funds throughout the University and thought of Miami with the warmth, gratitude, and nostalgia that come from knowing a place has shaped you. But when Roslyn passed away, her perspective on Miami shifted. The memories of late nights in the newsroom and the professors who challenged her remained, but they took on a different weight. She began thinking not just about where she had been, but about what she would leave behind. The idea of legacy became more important than ever.

With great care and intention, Kay worked with Miami’s gift planning team to craft a bequest gift that would endure beyond her lifetime. Her legacy will strengthen The Miami Student, ensuring that it remains a thriving, independent training ground for young journalists. It will create hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to step beyond the classroom and into the real world of reporting. It will also establish scholarships within the College of Arts and Sciences, with a special focus on journalism students. In a profound act of love and remembrance, this scholarship will bear the name of Roslyn Pulitzer, honoring the woman who shared her life, her passion, and her unwavering belief in the power of storytelling.

Kay’s gift is not just an investment in journalism. It is an investment in truth, in the courage to seek it, and in the voices of future reporters who will go on to challenge, inform, and inspire. She chose to honor the institution that gave her a beginning, and in doing so, she ensures that countless other students will have the chance to find their own.