From University of Mount Olive at Washington

 

Keith Kidwell has established a scholarship fund at the University of Mount Olive in Washington to honor the memory and legacy of his mother, Louise P. Kidwell.

“I wanted the scholarship fund to be used to benefit students with the same passion for accounting that my mother embodied on a daily basis,” Kidwell said.

Louise P. Kidwell began working with H&R Block in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1969. Accounting and taxes were some of the passions in her life. She became one of the first women to serve as a corporate controller for a major firm in New York City. After joining H&R Block, she quickly rose through the ranks to the level of district manager of the Paterson, New Jersey, district, where she oversaw the staff of some 12 offices and the preparation of 25,000 tax returns per year. In 1979, she relocated to Washington with her family and opened the H&R Block franchise locally. Louise Kidwell owned and operated the Washington office until her death in August 2007. All of her children, most of her grandchildren and one of great-grandchildren have worked or are working with H&R Block.

The Louise P. Kidwell/H&R Block Accounting Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for worthy and qualified students at the University of Mount Olive at the Washington location majoring in accounting. Recipients must demonstrate strong evidence of personal integrity, moral character, good citizenship, academic promise and a sincere commitment to attaining an education. The award amount is for $250 for the fall and spring semesters.

UMO Director Lita Ward said, “We are grateful for Mr. Kidwell’s generosity and an opportunity to provide more financial support to our students.”

The first scholarship recipient will be selected in January. For more information, contact Ward at lward@umo.edu.

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College.  For more information, visit www.umo.edu.