| Keith
Ario, benefactor of the largest scholarship gift in the
history of Montana State athletics, died this spring in
Great Falls at the age of 95. The former Bobcat football
and basketball player established a $1.2 million trust
in 1999, which upon his death transferred to the MSU Foundation
to fund the Keith and Olive Ario Scholarship Endowment.
The endowment will support scholarships for MSU students
pursuing a degree from the College of Engineering and
participating in intercollegiate athletics. The fund will
be held and invested in perpetuity as a permanent endowment
and only the income generated will be used to support
the scholarships. |
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| At
a luncheon given in his honor at MSU when he established
the trust in 1999, Ario said, "This (establishing
the trust) is a payback for all the nice years I spent
here,"and referred to his time at MSU as "the
finest time of my life." |
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| Dave
Gibson, MSU Foundation president and executive director
expressed his gratitude for Ario's gift. |
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| "This
gift is like a mini-Rhodes scholarship. It will recognize
student athletes who excel in the athletic realm as well
as the academic realm in engineering. This program will
embody what Keith represents. This generous gift helps
the future of our students and will be a benefit in perpetuity." |
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Keith
Ario holds a plaque featuring himself as a 1930 Bobcat
football and basketball player at the MSU football stadium
in this 1999 photo.
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