Bethany College Announces Mary Renner Scholars Program 

BETHANY, W.Va. (July 13, 2026) — Bethany College has established the Mary Renner Scholars Program, a permanent scholarship program created to honor Mary Renner’s life, values, and passions while providing ongoing support to students pursuing an education at Bethany College. The program has been made possible through a $500,000 gift from the Renner Foundation, creating a lasting investment in future generations of Bethany students. 

Designed as a lasting legacy, the Mary Renner Scholars Program reflects Renner’s deep care for others and will provide meaningful and visible support to students for generations to come. The program is funded through an endowment intended to preserve the principal while generating annual support for student scholarships. 

The Mary Renner Scholars Program also continues a remarkable Renner family legacy at Bethany College. For generations, the Renner family has supported Bethany through its leadership, service, and philanthropy, including the establishment of professorships, scholarship funds, and major institutional investments that have strengthened the College and expanded opportunities for students. 

The program reflects the broader philanthropic mission of the Renner Foundation, founded in 1947 by Dr. R. Richard Renner, which has long supported higher education, hospitals and health planning, conservation, the environment, and wildlife. Through both the Foundation and personal philanthropy, the Renner family has made significant investments in Bethany College that continue to benefit generations of students. 

Mary Renner was part of a deeply rooted Bethany family whose connection to the College spans multiple generations, beginning with Dr. R. Richard Renner, Class of 1917, and Jennie Steindorf Renner, Class of 1922, and continuing through their children and extended family. Together, the Renner Foundation and the Renner family’s enduring generosity have helped shape Bethany’s academic life, student experience, and long-term strength. 

Mary Renner Scholars will be selected from academically strong students who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and academic potential, with particular interest given to students who have a passion for English, literature, pre-veterinary studies, and/or the arts. Both incoming and continuing students may be eligible for support and may receive renewable assistance throughout their undergraduate enrollment, provided they remain in good academic standing. 

Students selected for the program will be designated as Mary Renner Scholars and recognized as part of a named cohort, creating a sense of identity, prestige, and belonging connected to Renner’s legacy. 

In accordance with Bethany College’s endowment spending policy and prudent investment practices, annual scholarship funding will be distributed from the endowment’s earnings. Based on current projections, the endowment is expected to generate approximately $12,000 to $14,000 annually for the program. The annual distribution will be divided among active Mary Renner Scholars, with the College anticipating support for a small cohort of one to three students in most years. 

The program is designed to ensure long-term sustainability while maximizing the impact of available earnings each year. The endowment principal will remain fully preserved, allowing the program to provide perpetual support for future generations of Bethany students. 

In addition to financial assistance, Mary Renner Scholars will be invited to participate in experiences that reflect Renner’s passions and values. Potential opportunities may include animal-related service projects, creative initiatives, and arts-based experiences designed to create a personal connection between Renner’s legacy and the students whose lives are impacted by the program. 

The Mary Renner Scholars Program establishes a permanent presence at Bethany College that will support students year after year. By creating a program in Renner’s name, the initiative ensures that her values, passions, and commitment to helping others will continue to influence and inspire Bethany students well into the future.