The Greatest Gift You Can Give

Though Marilyn (Sterling) Hail, C’56, attributes her first job to the connections she made at Saint Mary, this school was so much more than that.

To this day, the friendships and memories she made at Saint Mary are the friendships she still holds dear and memories she still cherishes.

“Coming to Saint Mary created a community for me—an only child,” said Marilyn.

More than 60 years later, community is what continues to attract dozens of students to Saint Mary.

“Coming to Saint Mary created a community for me—an only child”

“I’m from a small town in northern California,” explained sophomore Antonio Richardson. “Everyone knows everyone there, and that’s like here at Saint Mary … it’s what I like most about this school.”

Antonio couldn’t be a better match for the Marilyn & Don Hail Endowed Scholarship.

When Marilyn was asked why she and her husband donated appreciated stock to start the Hail endowed scholarship, she explained: “I was so fortunate to have a Catholic education my whole life, and I want more students to have access to the Catholic community at Saint Mary.”

And that’s exactly what the Hail endowed scholarship is fueling—the dream of going to college, surrounded by a family of believers.

“If it weren’t for my scholarship, I definitely wouldn’t be here,” Antonio said. “I’m one of six children, and there’s just no way my parents could have afforded Saint Mary.”

Though more than a half century separates Marilyn and Antonio’s time on campus, the love for community bonds them:

Marilyn forever changed by the friendships she made on campus. Antonio forever grateful to the Hail’s for pouring into his dream of pursuing a Catholic education.

To date, the Hail’s are one of 181 endowed scholarship donors at Saint Mary. USM’s endowment has seen incredible growth over the past decade—but every year, our students’ financial needs continue to grow. An endowed scholarship is just one way you can ensure tomorrow’s leaders have access to one of the greatest gifts you can ever give—a Saint Mary education.

Contact Jane Ellen Liebert, C’97, director of major gifts and planned giving, at jane.liebert@stmary.edu or 913-758-6126 to learn more about how to establish an endowed scholarship.