James R. Smale ’73 and Martha A. Kelly established the Ronald A. Smale and Gloria B. Smale Maryland Promise Scholarship in April 2024 under the auspices of the Clark Challenge for the Maryland Promise Program. This fund, established in memory of Mr. Smale’s parents, provides need-based scholarships for undergraduate students who are residents of Maryland or the District of Columbia, with preference for students in the College of Arts and Humanities.
James Smale and Martha Kelly dedicate an endowed scholarship to Jim’s parents, Ronald A. Smale and Gloria B. Smale, who planned for and financed their son’s education at the University of Maryland. Ron had secured his engineering degree through the G.I. Bill after serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Ron and Gloria never forgot how important and invaluable it is to have help in financing a college degree. Honoring Jim’s parents by continuing their legacy of expanding access to higher education is important to Jim and Martha, who hope all recipients of the Ronald A. Smale and Gloria B. Smale Maryland Promise Scholarship similarly offer financial support to the next generations who seek to attend UMD.