Donor Profile: Earline Ames

During her 36-year career at Sacramento State, Earline Ames was described by colleagues as a "tough, straight-shooting educator," and a "vibrant leader" with a "forthright communication style." She was also a generous supporter of her University.

The estate gift from the former Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Earline Ames contributed $300,000 to the Earline L. Ames Scholarship to benefit students studying to become teachers. And unlike most scholarships, which draw on an endowment in order to be funded in perpetuity, the Ames scholarship has the unusual distinction that all funds must be entirely spent within a 10-year period. The first scholarships were distributed for Fall 2009 and will be awarded annually until the funds are exhausted.

Ms. Ames was a professor in the then-School of Education and later chaired the Department of Behavioral Sciences before becoming Associate Vice President. Her interest in learning continued after she completed her teaching career. Ms. Ames earned a pilot's license at the age of 75 and wrote a book about the experience When Grandma Learned to Fly, A Flight Instructor's Nightmare.