Michael and Linda Harless Endowed Scholarship

Linda and Mike Harless both graduated from and loved the University of Memphis.Linda came to the UofM after graduating as valedictorian from Jackson North Side High School in Jackson, TN.She received her bachelor’s and master’s in elementary education.Mike is a lifelong Memphian and a Central High School graduate.He attended the UofM in the 1960s and majored in geography and history. Both were very active on campus and were involved in Greek life – Linda was president of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, secretary of student government, and Who’s Who, while Mike was an officer in Sigma Chi and in student government.
They maintained a close relationship with the university even after graduation. In addition to being longtime season ticket holders in football and basketball,both were life members of the UofM Alumni Association and both were founding officers in two Alumni chapter startups. But they wanted to give back in a more permanent way – they wanted to leave a lasting legacy at their beloved alma mater.
Because of their passion for education, a scholarship was something they both wanted to be able to offer deserving UofM students. Linda had a long affiliation with St. George’s Independent School, as a teacher, administrator and principal. So the couple decided to honor both institutions by crafting their scholarship for graduates of St. Georges Independent School who are also actively involved on campus and in their community, and who want to attend the UofM.
Linda lost her life in a long battle with cancer in 2009, but Mike is very grateful that her name and spirit will continue to live through this scholarship as well as the students and lives she has touched. Mike hopes that this scholarship will help a deserving student achieve his or her goal of graduating from college and becoming an active participant in our community and society.