Malcolm and Carol Renfrew Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics

Established in 2014 through a bequest from Malcolm and Carol Renfrew. Malcolm earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry in 1932 and 1934, respectively. Carol earned a B.A. in economics in 1935. After a successful career in industry, Malcolm returned to the University of Idaho as head of the Department of Physical Sciences and later the Department of Chemistry. During his time on the faculty, Malcolm helped to raise the research profile of the university and played a leading role in establishing a Ph.D. program. Following retirement, the Renfrews remained incredibly supportive of the University of Idaho and the Moscow community.
The scholarship is open to all students in the math department.
James and Marsha Seeley College of Science Scholarship Endowment

Dr. James '58 and Marsha Seeley of Medina, Washington, recently made a $100,000 gift to establish the James and Marsha Seeley College of Science Scholarship Endowment. Dr. Seeley completed a pre-medical degree at Idaho and earned his medical degree at George Washington University. Mrs. Seeley is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Seeley had an orthopedic practice in Bellevue, Washington, for 30 years before retiring in 1995. The Seeleys participated in Orthopedics Overseas (an organization similar to Doctors Without Borders), helping patients in Africa, India, and China. They enjoy spending time with their three children and seven grandchildren.

Dr. Seeley said, "As I have gotten older I recognize the extent that the University of Idaho has played in my life including the lifetime friendships and the wonderful preparation for life after college. I love the beautiful campus, caring professors and I am very proud that the university is ranked as one of the top for quality and value as it relates to return on investment. I want to give others the same opportunity that I had."

The M. Allyn Dingel, Jr. Scholarship

The M. Allyn Dingel, Jr., Scholarship was established by his family to honor him and his beloved profession, and to nurture future generations of lawyers by providing access to quality law education in Idaho. Allyn Dingel ’58 earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho and his law degree from New York University. “Even though he received his law degree from NYU, he treated the University of Idaho College of Law as his alma mater,” said his son, Mike Dingel ’91 & ’96. “He had so many colleagues and close friends who went there, as well as family members, including myself, my wife, Bryan’s wife, and our wives’ siblings.”

Allyn Dingel mentored young lawyers throughout his career, and the scholarship will continue to offer meaningful support to future young lawyers, in perpetuity. “He took great interest in the new lawyers who are inducted into the Idaho bar every year, many of whom receive their J.D.s from the College of Law. He always attended induction ceremonies. The law and the common bond amongst lawyers was his way of relating to generations, young and old,” said Mike. “My dad believed that the quality of education at the University of Idaho was excellent, and he would be honored that this scholarship was established in his name.”
The Martin Institute

The Institute was founded in 1979 as the Martin Institute of Human Behavior by Boyd A. and Grace C.S. Martin. Boyd Martin, son of an Idaho pioneer family, was born on the family farm east of Cottonwood, Idaho in 1911. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1936 and went on to earn a doctorate in political science from Stanford University in 1943. Grace Swingler Martin was born in Spokane, Washington and grew up in Kamiah, Idaho where her family owned a farm and store. She attended Washington State University and later graduated with a degree in English from University of California at Los Angeles. They married in December of 1933.

Boyd Martin was a graduate student at Stanford in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland. He was certain that this would lead to another world war, so that evening he discussed the situation with his wife Grace and they agreed to take their life savings, some $800, and invest it with the goal of eventually beginning an institute to study the causes of war, and the conditions necessary for achieving lasting peace. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Martin returned to the University of Idaho as an assistant professor of political science. He went on to become head of the department and in 1955 was named Dean of the College of Letters and Science, a post he held until his retirement in 1973.

Over the years, the $800 that the Martins had invested at the beginning of World War II had grown to over $600,000 when in 1979 the Martin Institute was founded, with Dr. Martin as its first director. In July of 1990 the name was changed to The Martin Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. A half-time interim director was hired to help Dr. Martin expand the institute and its activities and the institute secretary became full-time. A program advisor was added to help manage the International Studies program after the Martin Institute took over its management in 1996. An institute newsletter, the Martin Institute News, was begun in the summer of 1991. Back issues, available on this website, give details of the development of the Martin Institute over the years.


Vandal Sweethearts Give Back

Kathy (Skok) Whistler and Jim Whistler met as freshman at the University of Idaho during a “freshman exchange” event between his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, and her sorority, Pi Beta Phi.

Shortly after, Jim landed a job working as a server and dishwasher at Kathy’s sorority. As the months went by, she knew it was love when he began serving her extra desserts.

Now, after 48 years of marriage, the Whistlers are leaving a permanent mark on the institution that helped shape their lives by including U of I in their estate plan.

Jim earned his degree in Finance from the College of Business and Economics at UI in 1970, and then his Juris Doctor from the College of Law in 1973.  Kathy earned her bachelor's in journalism from the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences in 1973.

E. Whitney "Whit" Johnson '80

While attending the University of Idaho and pursuing bachelor's degrees in psychology and anthropology, E. Whitney "Whit" Johnson '80 was transformed by the volunteer work he did as a member of Phi Gamma Delta.

"I love doing volunteer work."  Johnson said.  "My fraternity brothers and I used to go down to the old folks home to entertain the residents with skits like 'Who's on First.'  I also volunteer at the suicide hotline twice a week for two years.  That really sparked my passion for serving."
J.D. Rowell - J.D. Rowell Scholarships Support Global Agribusiness

The University of Idaho is proud to part with loyal donors like J.D. Rowell to ensure a globally-based agricultural education is available to U of I students, both in the state of Idaho and abroad.  Rowell attended U of I in the 1940's before transferring to Oregon State University to finish his undergraduate studies.

"I'm connected to the U of I through many persons." Rowell said.  "My father, mother, brother, sister, aunts, uncles and myself are among the many U of I alumni."

J.D. is a '48 Mu Iota Fiji, his father Paul Rowell '22  and uncle Ralph Rowell '22, and his brother Peter Rowell '47 are all Mu Iota Fijis.