The Gale-Hufham Scholarship was established by Dr. Nord Gale and Dr. James “Jim” Hufham as part of a need-based scholarship matching program. Through it, one biological sciences student receives a $1,000 scholarship each year. These two professors endowed the scholarship in the early 2000s, and it has helped support many past and present S&T students.

But what about the people who created the scholarship? Gale joined the faculty in 1968 and was the founding chair of the biological sciences department. Hufham joined the faculty in 1969 as the first hire of Gale’s and remained as a faculty member until he retired in 1996. Gale died in 2019 and Hufham died in 2006 but their gift continues to provide scholarships for students.

Dr. Paula Lutz, Chem’76, retired dean and faculty member of S&T, remembers them fondly.

“The program was tiny then – just Nord and Jim,” says Lutz. “They had heavy teaching loads and did all of their own lab prep. But they always gave their students their time and that personal connection that is so important for success.”

Lutz says the two faculty were able to explain complex principles in ways that made sense to their students and she would try to emulate their abilities in the classroom.

“My first teaching experiences were with Jim in a microbiology lab,” says Lutz. “He was patient with his ‘crew,’ teaching us good technique and laughing, most of the time, at our mistakes.”

Former students remember them fondly as well. Dr. David Westenberg, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of biological sciences, was able to contact several S&T alumni who were able to share memories of Gale for his retirement luncheon in the early 2000s.

“It was a privilege and an honor to learn from Dr. Gale during my time at UMR,” says David Beem, Chem’75. “I have more than 40 years in the field of industrial hygiene and I owe a lot of it to you – Dr. Gale, you were a great advisor and teacher.”

“Dr. Gale was always one of my very favorite professors,” says Tami Short, LSci’89. “He taught me a lot.”

“Although I graduated from UMR – yes, it will always be UMR to me – eons ago, I still have fond memories of my classes with Dr. Gale and I would love to see him again,” says Kim Winkeler, LSci’88.

To donate to the Gale-Hufham Scholarship, give online or contact Michelle Shults, senior philanthropic advisor for CASE, at shultsm@mst.edu or call (573) 341-4380.