Charles and Sharon Kimbell have made a $435,000 gift to Kansas University to establish a renewable scholarship for graduates of Hutchinson High School.

Charles Kimbell earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1954. He owned a fire and casualty insurance company in Hutchinson and retired in 1990. Sharon Lynch Kimbell earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from KU in 1958 and is a former teacher.

“We have fond memories of KU, and we hope that this scholarship will help some really good young people from Hutchinson be able to attend KU,” Sharon Kimbell said.

Dayton LaMunyon, a 2014 graduate of Hutchinson High School, is the first recipient of the Charles and Sharon Kimbell Family Scholarship.

KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said, “It’s a great example of giving back to the community, and I want to thank Charles and Sharon for enabling more Hutchinson students to become leaders by attending the University of Kansas.”

One new recipient will be selected each year, and the scholarship, which will provide $5,000 per student per year, eventually will support four students concurrently.