Peyton Manning donates $1M for endowment at University of Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has donated $1 million to his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, to establish the John Haas Student Experiential Learning Endowment.

The donation honors John Haas, a longtime director and associate professor in Tennessee’s College of Communication and Information’s School of Communication Studies. Haas was Manning’s college adviser and one of his professors.

Manning said in a statement that “exceptional teachers transform your way of learning by challenging and motivating you while teaching more than just a subject.” Manning added that “for me and so many others, that teacher was Dr. John Haas.”

Manning, a five-time NFL most valuable player, quarterbacked Tennessee from 1994-97 and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up his senior year