UMHB Receives Donation to Establish Marek-Smith Special Education Endowed Scholarship

BELTON, Texas- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) is honored to announce that a $1 million gift has been made to establish the Marek-Smith Special Education Endowed Scholarship by donors who wish to remain anonymous. This scholarship will support UMHB Bachelor of Science in Education students seeking special education certification.

"We are so grateful for the generosity of these incredible friends of the university. Their investment will impact the lives of UMHB students for years to come as they pursue their calling to educate children with special needs," said Dr. Randy O'Rear, university president. "I can't think of a more deserving career to invest in. The world needs Christ-centered, servant-hearted educators to shape the future, and this scholarship will open doors for our students who feel God has called them to work in special education."

The university opened the Marek-Smith Center for Teacher Preparation in spring 2024. This state-of-the-art facility houses innovative classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology, resources, equipment, and tools for training special education teachers, enabling UMHB's College of Education to continue to educate and inspire students to pursue a meaningful career in special education.

"No other profession impacts the future the way an educator does," said Craig Hammonds, UMHB's dean of the College of Education. "Each year, UMHB is blessed to graduate some of the brightest, hardest-working young educators in the field. Endowed scholarships like this help to ensure the future of education is strong. The College of Education couldn't be more grateful."