Merz Endowment Supports College of Business and Economics Accountancy Students
His first gift to the university was in 1975. It wasn’t long after the fledgling university had transitioned from Boise Junior College, to Boise State College and eventually Boise State University. His gift was for $15 to the Athletic Department and came the year after Mike Merz began working in the College of Business and Economics as an accountancy faculty member.
“I love Boise State,” Merz said. “Since I began working at Boise State, the university has become an outstanding institution and an important contributor to the quality of life in Boise.”
Mike and his wife, Sally, are Loyal Broncos — donors who give consistently and consecutively to the university. For the past 45 years, they’ve shown generous philanthropic support toward the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Boise State Public Radio, College of Business and Economics Building Fund, Accountancy Excellence Fund, and several gifts to the Warren McCain Library Endowment, to name a few.
“Boise State has been very good to my wife and me,” Mike said. “We are pleased to be able to give a little bit back to the University.”
Seeing a need for scholarship support for accountancy students, Mike established the C. Mike Merz Scholarship Endowment in 1999 in the College of Business and Economics to benefit students in the Department of Accountancy.
“I can’t imagine earning a higher rate-of-return on philanthropic giving than helping a deserving student earn a college degree,” he said.
Scholarship endowments, or permanent funds managed in a pooled investment portfolio by the Boise State Foundation, provide student support through annual distributions in perpetuity and are directed toward areas of the donor’s intent.
“Boise State is very user-friendly in offering opportunities for non-traditional students to earn a college degree and learn marketable skills to better their economic life,” Mike said. “My scholarship recipient is a perfect example of such a student.”
Creating a scholarship within the Department of Accountancy at the College of Business and Economics not only helps students succeed but honors the top-flight faculty who provide excellence in instruction and career guidance.
“Our accounting faculty worked hard to help our graduates get entry-level jobs in the accounting profession,” he said. “One of my most gratifying experiences is running into a former student who is having a successful career in a local firm and believing that I contributed to their success.”