The James C. McGinnis and Jeannine O. McGinnis Endowed Scholarship has been established through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

A gift from Mrs. McGinnis created this scholarship to help individuals who have chosen to serve in the military and their families achieve their educational goals.

This renewable scholarship will be awarded to a Southeast undergraduate student who is either an active duty military service member, guardsman or reserve member; or an honorably discharged military veteran from one of the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; or is the spouse or dependent of an active duty military service member, guardsman or reserve member, or of an honorably discharged military veteran. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Those with financial need will be given preference, but it is not required.

Mr. McGinnis was born in Springfield, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and achieved the rank of master sergeant. After retiring from military service in 1973, the McGinnises were both employed by the University. Throughout his employment at Southeast, Mr. McGinnis continued his education and received an associate degree in 1976 and his Bachelor of Science in 1979. He retired in 1991 as supervisor for Buildings and Grounds Services in Facilities Management. He passed away Jan. 31, 2016.

Mrs. McGinnis was born in Portageville, Missouri. Her career at Southeast also began in 1973. She worked in a couple of different roles at the University before settling in the Registrars Office in 1974 as an assistant registrar. She was promoted to associate registrar in 1985 and to registrar in 1987. Mrs. McGinnis retired from full-time University service in 1993, but she continued to assist with special projects for the Registrars Office until 1998. Throughout her employment at Southeast, she also continued her education and received a Bachelor of General Studies in 1975, a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies in 1976, and a Master of Arts in psychological counseling in 1984.

The McGinnis two sons and one of their grandchildren also have graduated from Southeast.