OXFORD, Ohio - A family effort including the support of three undergraduate students and a recent graduate has created a scholarship within Miami University's Farmer School of Business.

The effort was led by Miami parent Dick Spinell of Barrington, Ill., who enlisted the support of his daughter Christina (Miami '14), nieces Samantha (Miami '11) and Briana (Miami '14) and nephew Steven (Miami '13) in creating and funding the scholarship. Steven is a senior captain on Miami's varsity ice hockey team.

"I didn't want it to be just me creating a scholarship," Dick said. "My brothers and I are trying to instill leadership and the need to give back within our family. I could not think of a better place for the next generation to start than with a university that has given them so many unbelievable memories and such a wonderful foundation for their lives."

All four of the Spinell cousins have graduated from or are enrolled in the Farmer School of Business. Samantha completed a double major in marketing and finance in 2011, Steven and Briana are majoring in finance, and Christina is studying marketing. The Spinell Family Scholarship is to be awarded to students within the Farmer School of Business. Preference, in honor of Steven's experience on Miami's ice hockey team, will be given to varsity student-athletes.

Although Dick is not an alumnus of Miami University, he takes pride in knowing that his family has left a legacy at the university that will be entrusted to his descendants.

"Every time you visit Miami's campus, you walk around and pinch yourself," Dick said. "What a treat. What a privilege to be at such a place. I just wanted to make sure that our family's next generation never takes that for granted."

The gift supports The Miami University campaign For Love and Honor which, as the university's most successful fundraising campaign, has raised more than $466 million in support of Miami's priorities.

--MURedHawks.com--