Fox News commentator and author Bill O”™Reilly has donated $1 million to Marist College to create a scholarship named after a former mentor at the television host”™s alma mater in Poughkeepsie.
The recent gift by O”™Reilly, a 1971 graduate, will be used to establish the Peter P. O”™Keefe, PhD. Endowed Scholarship, Marist officials recently announced. O”™Reilly, host of The O”™Reilly Factor on Fox, in the announcement described O”™Keefe, a history professor who retired after a 34-year career, as “an exceptional teacher, scholar, and mentor.”
“I am pleased to be able to establish a scholarship in his honor so that others can benefit as I did from a great Marist education,” he said.
Marist officials said the scholarship will provide full financial support to one student annually, beginning with an incoming member of the class of 2020. Chosen students will have demonstrated special promise in academic and leadership roles and would not otherwise be financially able to attend Marist.
Examples of potential recipients include class valedictorians, salutatorians, National Merit finalists, student body presidents, school newspaper editors, Eagle Scouts, Gold Award recipients, athletic team captains, and other young leaders.
School officials said O”™Reilly will personally meet with the O”™Keefe Scholars to provide advice and guidance as they navigate their college years and prepare for successful careers and lives.
“I am truly touched by this wonderful tribute from one of the most talented, entrepreneurial, and engaged students I had the privilege of teaching at Marist,” O”™Keefe said. “It is a wonderful example of giving back that Bill is setting with this new scholarship, which will allow more talented students to discover and nurture their interests and passions at Marist, as he did.”
