Mike and Mary Keegan

Former SUNY New Paltz Foundation chair Michael Keegan and wife Mary Keegan established the Smiley Family Endowed Scholarship fund, for SUNY New Paltz students who are employees or family of employees at Mohonk Mountain House. The Smiley Endowed Fund is named in honor of the Smiley family, who have lived in New Paltz for almost 150 years as the owners and operators of Mohonk Mountain House. Many members of the Smiley family, and many more Mohonk employees, are also SUNY New Paltz alumni, and share with the Keegans a close bond to the academic and cultural community at the College.

The concept of a Smiley Family scholarship emerged through Mary’s conversations with Mohonk employees who were also SUNY New Paltz students, alumni or parents who hoped that their children would someday enroll at the College. Mary’s connection to their stories, and her strong belief in higher education as a first-generation college graduate, were the foundations for this scholarship.

“We have enjoyed a close friendship with the Smiley Michael and Mary Keegan family and the employees of Mohonk Mountain House for more than two decades, and believe in their values, their integrity and their commitment to higher education,” Mary Keegan said. “We feel grateful and fortunate to provide the ‘seed’ money to establish this endowed scholarship, and are especially pleased that all donated funds will go directly to benefit students.”