SOLitude CEO pledges thousands to James Madison University

The Tucker Family Fellowship will contribute at least $4,000 annually in perpetuity to a top student from the program’s Summer Venture Accelerator.

The SVA provides student entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop businesses at all stages. Through the 10-week program, student fellows receive funding, work space, mentorship, business classes, hands-on learning experiences and a final opportunity to pitch their venture against peers across the nation. The SVA is a competitive program as more than 100 JMU students apply each year. Only 20 are selected to participate.

The Tucker Student Venture Creation Fellowship Endowment was announced at the annual Student Venture Showcase held at JMU in Harrisonburg, VA last month. The inaugural Tucker Fellow will be awarded at next year’s Venture Showcase.

“When an alumnus has been successful and supports students who are venturing on the same path that he or she once did, it has a compounding effect,” said Patrick McQuown, director of the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship. “We congratulate Kevin on his success and appreciate his acknowledgment of the work we do to support aspiring business owners."

Tucker earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management with a concentration in Finance from James Madison University in 1993. Five years later, he established SOLitude Lake Management (originally Virginia Lake Management) in southeastern Virginia. The company now operates from 50 offices throughout the country, with locations from Massachusetts to Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, Arizona and California.

Though the SVA program was not established until well after Tucker completed his undergraduate career, he has still served as a guest lecturer, a member of JMU’s Board for the Center of Entrepreneurship and as an Entrepreneur in Residence. Tucker also established a volunteering and community outreach arm of SOLitude Lake Management called The SOLution in 2012. Through this program, employees are encouraged and rewarded for volunteering during and outside of regular work hours.

Since the kick-off of The SOLution, the SOLitude team has generated more than 17,000 volunteer hours for causes and non-profit organizations that they are passionate about. The creation of the Tucker Fellowship underscores this dedication to altruism and supporting others. Click to learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and The SOLution program.