FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Mary Trimble Maier has given $236,000 to endow scholarships for the University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Scholars Program. The gift establishes the John L. and Mary T. Maier Chancellor’s Scholarship, designated to help a highly talented student from Arkansas.

A University alumna, Mrs. Maier was formerly of McGehee, Ark., and now resides in Hot Springs and Manchester, Va.

"My late husband and I became involved in providing student scholarships when we were asked to be the executors of the estate of an individual who was interested in helping students," said Mrs. Maier. "Later, the Arkansas Alumni Association became a love of ours. While giving to 'brick and mortar’ college projects is a good thing, I feel very strongly that providing scholarships enables me to make a difference in the lives of outstanding young people."

"We appreciate Mrs. Maier’s continued and generous support," said Chancellor John A. White. "This gift will have a significant impact on the University in helping us attract and retain the top students in the state. Our vision is for the University to play a larger role in providing the state with superbly educated intellectual talent during the next century. Mrs. Maier is helping to turn that vision into reality."

Both of the Maiers attended the University of Arkansas. Mr. Maier studied in the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences and Mrs. Maier in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Mrs. Maier, who graduated in 1949, said, "We met while attending the University of Arkansas, and we’ve always held a warm spot for the school. In June 1999, we would have celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary, so it seemed fitting that I make the gift at this time."

Prior to his death in 1992, Mr. Maier was a third-generation agricultural businessman in McGehee and Desha Country, Ark., where his family settled before the turn of the century. In addition to farming cotton, rice and soybeans, he pursued other interests including banking. He served on the McGehee-Desha County Hospital Board and was active in the First United Methodist Church.

All three of the Maier children, John L. Maier, III of Fayetteville; Marilyn Maier Fincher of Little Rock; and Nancy Cooper Maier of Fayetteville, hold degrees from the University, including two bachelor’s and two master’s degrees.

"We remember how thrilled our parents were to participate in the restoration of Old Main by giving a special classroom," said Mrs. Fincher. "So it was not surprising that this scholarship is important to us as well."

In addition to the family’s history of giving to the University, Mrs. Maier has supported the University in a number of other ways. She served as president of the Alumni Association, as an Alumni board member and on the new Alumni House building committee.

In addition, Mrs. Maier was a member of the School of Education and Health Professions Dean’s Development Council, the National Development Council, the Old Main Society, and the School of Architecture’s 20^th Century Gardens advisory board. She was also the recipient of the Andrew Lucas Award for Outstanding Alumni in 1992 and a charter member of the Chancellor’s Society.

Mrs. Fincher said, "Our parents have always had a great love for children. This gift is an example of their continuing hope that Arkansas’ brightest and best young people might benefit from their generosity. These special students can make a difference in the lives of others, and in doing so, help lead our state and our country to its new century of challenges."

In the1998-99 school year, the University provided 491 Chancellor’s Scholarships to incoming freshman with 80 percent of the recipients from Arkansas. The scholarship provides full tuition and fees, room and board and is specially designed to keep highly talented students in Arkansas for their college education.

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