Established and funded in June 2023, the Dr. Mary Ridgway Scholarship Endowment stands as a testament to the extraordinary legacy of Mary E. Ridgway, PhD ’71, ’74. A distinguished alumna of Texas Woman's University and a former head coach, faculty member and senior administrator at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Ridgway has devoted her career to the fields of kinesiology and sports. This scholarship endowment, the second created by Ridgway, reflects her dedication to supporting undergraduate kinesiology students at TWU.

Throughout her tenure at UTA from 1976 to 2006, Ridgway held leadership roles at UTA such as Chair of the Department of Kinesiology, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Undergraduate Academic and Student Affairs, as well as other committee and advisory roles in the greater UT System. She also achieved numerous milestones, including guiding the NCAA Division I UTA Volleyball team to five national tournaments and leading the U.S. Wheelchair Sports Team at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics.

Upon her retirement, UTA honored Ridgway as Professor Emerita of Kinesiology. Her involvement in programs like Leadership Texas, the Governor's Executive Development Program and the Harvard Management Development Program further underscores her commitment to professional development and leadership. Her profound impact on public education and sports continues to inspire future professionals and scholars.