The family of a Ball State University graduate has created a scholarship to assist students studying elementary education. The Mark Murfin Scholarship has been created at Ball State through gifts by his wife, Bettie Murfin, and his sons, Joe C. and Ross C.

Born in 1913, Mark Murfin is a native of Pendleton, Ind., and earned a teaching certificate from what was then Ball State Teachers College in 1933. He received his bachelor's degree from Ball State in 1940 and later earned a master's degree and doctorate from Indiana University.

Murfin dedicated over 60 years of his life to the field of education.  He began his career as a public school teacher in Pendleton and later served as principal in Fairmount, Noblesville, Peru and Richmond. Murfin also served on the faculty at several universities and colleges, including Indiana University, Boston University, University of Miami, Northwestern University and Ball State.

(Note to Editors:For more information, contactAmy Thomas, associate vice president for endowment and planned gift stewardship for the Ball State Foundation, at (765) 285-7068.)