Bill and Melanie Roper of La Jolla, California, are deepening their commitment to University of Mississippi students by adding $3 million to the Bill and Melanie Roper Scholarship Endowment, which began with a $2 million gift in 2022.
What makes this experience especially meaningful for the Ropers is their personal involvement with the students who benefit from their generosity. The scholarship supports business, science, technology, engineering or math majors in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
“It’s been really rewarding,” said Bill Roper, an Ole Miss alumnus and Jackson, Mississippi, native. “We’ve given money to other philanthropic channels but often haven’t seen much connection between the gift and the results. We wanted to make a difference by investing in young people — helping them to reach their full potential and then be able to give back to society.”
The Roper Scholars program will be expanding to support 16 students as a result of this additional gift. The Ropers currently assist eight scholars, five of whom are pursuing pre-med tracks.
“That’s amazing,” Roper continued. “Certainly, the health care system will need more talented professionals — whether they are pursuing research or practicing as M.D.s, serving as much-needed rural doctors or world-class physicians.”
UM Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce praised the Ropers for their generosity and engagement.
“As we prepare our students to be the next generation of leaders, we are deeply grateful for the exceptionally generous scholarship resources and scholar engagement from Melanie and Bill Roper,” he said. “They have a clear vision: developing citizen-scholars who will make significant contributions to the world. It’s inspiring for our students to see how much donors like the Ropers care about their success.”
Scholarship recipients say they are encouraged by the Ropers’ ongoing communication, shared meals and attendance at events spotlighting them.
Ethel Young Scurlock, dean of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, emphasized the transformative nature of the gift.
“The Roper Scholarship now stands as the largest award offered in the Honors College, providing each student $12,000 per year. Our scholars consistently share that the Roper Scholarship was a defining factor in their decision to remain in Mississippi and pursue their education at Ole Miss,” said Scurlock.
“Bill and Melanie do far more than fund a scholarship — they mentor, encourage and truly care for every student who holds a scholarship bearing their names,” she continued. “Their extraordinary generosity is reshaping futures, uplifting families and enriching our Honors College commitment. Their additional $3 million commitment to their scholarship endowment means that the Ropers’ investment will lift the profile of Mississippi and its students for generations.”
The Roper Scholarship benefits the Honors College, which was founded by Roper’s Sigma Chi fraternity brother Jim Barksdale, whose success inspired Roper to get involved.
“If you see a winning organization, figure out how to become a part of it,” he said. “I think the current educational environment is more enriching and produces a broader set of experiences than what was available to me. Our scholarship recipients are very engaged, committed, disciplined and focused on career plans and life opportunities.
“When we made our initial gift, Melanie and I told Glenn Boyce and Ethel Scurlock that if they would attract outstanding students to Ole Miss, we would provide more resources. This gift is a fulfillment of that promise,” Roper said. “We hope to make a difference with students who can, in turn, improve various corners of the world in ways we can only imagine today.
“This is an investment that will pay dividends through the actions and capabilities of these scholars,” he continued. “When they become successful, we want them to be motivated to pay it forward, and in turn help future generations of young people.”
Roper earned a math degree from Ole Miss, thanks to two scholarships. The longtime successful business professional served for 17 years as the executive vice president of SAIC Inc., a diversified science and technology services organization with annual revenues that grew from less than $1 billion to more than $9 billion during his tenure.
He also provided leadership as president and CEO of Verisign Inc., the leading global provider of internet infrastructure and security services and a member of the NASDAQ 100. At Verisign, he was responsible for restructuring and repositioning the company. He has also served on the boards of several public and private companies, along with active involvement in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations. He is currently on the board of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla, where he said he would enjoy introducing any of the Roper Scholars to its world-class medical researchers and programs.
Roper has spoken to business classes at Ole Miss and judged competitions hosted by the School of Business Administration’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Senior Roper Scholar Arden Pierce of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is majoring in geology and will pursue a master’s degree in planetary geology with hopes of working for NASA. In addition to the financial assistance, Pierce appreciates the personal support she receives.
“I never would have thought I would have met the Ropers and had the opportunity to build a relationship with them and all the other scholars,” Pierce said. “That’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve received from this scholarship: knowing there will always be someone who cares about what I’m doing.”
The Bill and Melanie Roper Scholarship Endowment is open to gifts from individuals and organizations. To contribute, send checks with the scholarship name noted in the memo line to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655, or online here. For more information, contact Angela Brown, executive director of development, at browna@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3181.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development