Couple Gives $1 Million for Religious Studies Scholarships at Scripps

Reverend Wendy Smith ’68 and her wife, Meredith Ross, have chosen to leave a planned gift of $1 million to endow a religious studies scholarship at Scripps.

Today, Scripps religious studies students enter professions across multiple fields, but Smith notes this wasn’t the norm in the ’60s and ’70s. Though facing protests due to her gender, she ultimately went on to become one of the first women in the United States to be ordained by the Episcopal Church.

Smith and Ross credit their families for modeling that giving back is a lifestyle. Smith’s parents gave their time, money, and expertise to local organizations, and Ross shares that her years moving around the world as an “army brat” engrained in her the virtue of supporting your community.

“Sometimes the need was monetary, sometimes home repair work, sometimes just someone to listen,” says Ross, who received financial aid that helped her pursue her graduate degrees.

“All required someone to step up and help with whatever resources could be spared.”

Both Ross and Smith say that their education helped open career doors for them. Now, future students will be able to explore the interdisciplinary richness of religious studies at Scripps.

“Religious studies proposes significant answers to troubling questions people face such as, ‘What is my purpose in life? Who needs my help? How do I help my community live in peace?’” says Smith. “I want to enable students who come after me to receive the same opportunities to pursue their interests in religious studies and to support the religious studies curriculum, which has been so important to me.”

To learn how your planned gift can make a lasting impact for future students, contact the Office of Gift Planning at (909) 621-8400 or giftplanning@scrippscollege.edu.