Asbridges show their gratitude to MSU with scholarships by Evelyn Boswell . Jack and Marilyn (Milburn) Asbridge have lived almost half a century in New Mexico and traveled across the United States and around the world. But the couple has never forgotten the foundation they received from Montana and Montana State University. . "We still love Montana,"said Jack, who graduated from MSU in 1953 with a degree in physics. Marilyn graduated in 1954 in physical education. "We were both born and raised in Montana. We met at Montana State University and got married. Montana gave us both our pre-college educations, and MSU gave us educations that allowed us to be successful in life." Jack and Marilyn (Milburn) Asbridge Jack, a native of Lakeside, worked 32 years as a physicist and program manager of space satellite programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Marilyn grew up on the N Bar Ranch near Grassrange, graduated from high school in Lewistown and worked 12 years with the Los Alamos Schools. Together, the couple raised five children, some of whom also attended MSU. Every year since retiring in 1991, the Asbridges have tried to take one international trip, and at least one domestic trip annually, often using their RV. Last October, for example, the couple joined other MSU alums on a three-week trip to China. One of their domestic trips took them over the last half of the Lewis and Clark trail. They had started the journey the year before and finished it after attending MSU's graduation and Jack's 50th class reunion at MSU. Later, despite knee replacement surgery, Jack was well enough to join his son-in-law, son and grandson on an antelope hunt in Wyoming. In late June, the Asbridges and several family members traveled to Hawaii to celebrate the couple's 50th anniversary. "We've been fortunate,"Jack said. To express their gratitude for satisfying lives, the Asbridges gave $25,000 to MSU a few years ago and another $5,000 every year since. Fitting in with President Geoff Gamble,s appeal to "put students first,"the resulting fund allows the university to give two scholarships to students majoring in the fields in which the Asbridges majored. Given in alternate years, one scholarship goes to a physics major. The other goes to a student majoring in health and human development (physical education when Marilyn was a student). "MSU has a soft spot in my heart. It's been in my life for generations,"Marilyn said. Not only did she graduate from MSU, but so did her father, brother and many of their children. For more information about the Montana State University Foundation, visit the MSU Foundation web site.