The Donna Marburger, Jayne Jenkins, Ruth Campbell, Louise Thouin Physical Education Scholarship

In 1996, Donna Marburger established a scholarship in honor of Ruth Campbell and Louise Thouin who were her mentors and role models. Ruth Campbell came to the University of Wyoming in 1924 and served as Head of the Women’s Physical Education Department from that time until her retirement in 1965. In addition to administrative duties, she taught physical and health education, coached the women’s varsity ski team and was an academic advisor to all the women physical education majors. Ruth gave untiringly of herself to the University and to her community. Louise Thouin earned her Master of Science degree in physical education at the University of Wyoming in 1945 and continued as a faculty member until her retirement in 1978. In addition to teaching a variety of courses, she sponsored the Women’s Athletic Association, and coached women’s play day and sports day teams. Her sense of humor, enthusiasm and love of teaching had a lasting influence on all who knew her.

Dr. Donna Marburger, a native of Glenrock, Wyoming, received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wyoming in 1954 prior to earning her master’s degree from the University of Colorado and her doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado. In 1967, Donna returned to the University of Wyoming where she was a faculty member in the Department of Physical Education and in her early years coached women’s varsity field hockey and softball. She taught psychology/sociology of sport, racket sports, aquatics and sport history.

Dr. Jayne Jenkins who grew up in Minnesota, but spent most of her 40 year Physical Education career in Wyoming, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical and Health Education from the University of Minnesota at Mankato in 1971. After six years of teaching junior high girls physical and health education in Jackson, Minnesota, Jayne moved to Sheridan to teach elementary physical and health education. After earning her masters in Physical Education from UW in 1995 and her doctorate in Teaching and Teacher Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1999, Jayne and her husband, Bill Gorman, returned back to the Cowboy state where Jayne has been on faculty ever since.

Inspired by the careers of Donna, Ruth and Louise, Jayne approached Donna about supporting this fund to provide additional scholarships to students in the Physical Education Teacher Education Program. In the summer of 2016, the name of the scholarship was officially changed to honor the four women who have dedicated their careers to preparing future physical education teachers. This scholarship is available to students enrolled in the Physical Education Teacher Education Program within the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming. To be eligible for this scholarship award an applicant must be a full-time student, have financial need as defined by FAFSA and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or greater. Preference shall be given to a student who is a Wyoming resident.