The gift that keeps on giving

Adding to his late wife’s legacy for a cause she cared deeply about has been a “gratifying and pleasing” experience for John Mayo.

John’s wife Marylyn established the Marylyn Eve Mayo Endowment Scholarship in 2001, before passing away in 2002. This annual scholarship supports a law student who is experiencing financial hardship.

Marylyn graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law conjoint degree in 1960. At that time there was only a small group of female law graduates.

After graduating she worked in private practice until 1969. She then worked as an academic at James Cook University in Queensland. It was there that she progressed to become the foundation head and acting dean of the law school.

John says it is a privilege to continue to support students in Marylyn’s memory.

“Sadly she never saw the first annual award nor experienced the pleasure this scholarship has brought to recipients. I am grateful to her for giving me that pleasure.

“The students have less of a financial burden so they can devote themselves to success in their studies in the immediate term. Then they reap the benefit of having a prize or scholarship on their record.”

Marylyn’s generosity inspired John to establish the Marylyn Mayo Rare Book Room in 2004 and the $2 million Marylyn and John Mayo Chair in Health Law and Policy in 2017. He covers the cost of restoring fragile books in the Davis Law Library, as well as supporting the University in other areas.

John says that scholarships have such a significant impact on students that they often go on to establish their own scholarships as their careers flourish.

One of those students was Matt Tihi who was awarded the Marylyn Eve Mayo Endowment Scholarship in 2014. He and his wife Lara established the He Maunga Teitei Prize for Academic Achievement in 2015.

John says it is wonderful to see people coming together to help each other, all because Marylyn established the scholarship 17 years ago.
“The scholarship has had a multiplier effect both in prompting my own support for the University and in encouraging recipients themselves to go on to help students at a later date.

“It is the most rewarding of gifts as it focuses on helping individuals in their time of financial need. It stands out in terms of reward to funds ratio – relatively modest funding, but great reward to me as the donor.”