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Central College received an estate gift of more than $200,000 from Marjorie Giles, a former longtime Central staff member. Giles’ estate gift funded the Marjorie Giles Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time during the 2020-21 academic year Giles started at Central in 1972 as associate dean of students and served as dean of students from 1983-95. In addition, she served as the college’s director of retention and development programs from 1995-98.

“Central is always grateful for the generous support of its alumni and friends, and the importance of estate and legacy gifts cannot be overstated,” says Sunny Gonzales Eighmy, vice president for advancement and a 1999 Central graduate. “Marjorie embodied the Central spirit; she had such a heart for others. Our own children knew her well from her volunteer work in the schools, at church and what seemed like her perfect attendance at all Central athletics events. I’m so pleased current and future students will know her story and benefit from her generous scholarship support for years to come.”

Originally from the Chicago area, Giles attended the National College of Education and received a master’s degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. Before her work at Central, she served as a kindergarten teacher, a Christian education director and on the residence hall staff of Illinois State University. An avid sports fan, Giles helped start women’s athletics championships in the Iowa Conference (now the American Rivers Conference), was a member of the NCAA Council from 1990-93 and was the first female president of the Iowa Conference during the 1991-92 academic year. In 2003, the IIAC renamed the women’s all-sports trophy the “Marjorie B. Giles Trophy.” At Central, the Marjorie Giles Student Life Leadership Award is presented annually to a student who has demonstrated values and faith-based leadership in a variety of co-curricular activities, in addition to Central athletics as an athlete, trainer, student, coach or in another related athletics role.

Giles was active in the Central and Pella communities. In 2004, Giles received the Fellowship of Service award for dedicating more than 26 years of professional service to Central. She was an active member of Friends of the Central Arts, Central RED, Central Club, Cornerstone Society, Heritage Club and the Second Reformed Church of Pella.
Giles died May 5, 2019, in Pella.