Whether it was a card to a relative or a note in her husband’s lunch, Marye Lynn Cummings never let a day pass without writing to the people she loved. Friends and family remember her poetry, creativity and dedication to communicating beautiful words through her talents of the written word. While Marye Lynn passed away in May 2005, her memory will live on through the establishment of a graduate student creative writing scholarship at Oklahoma State University.

“I wanted to find a way for her memory and creativity to live on,” her husband, Michael said. “Even though she traveled the globe to some of the world’s most exotic cities, Marye always considered herself ‘small-town.’ Oklahoma State seemed like the best place to remember her.”

Although Marye’s family lived at several Army bases across the world, Marye always considered Oklahoma home. The daughter of an Oklahoma State alumnus, Marye spent several summers in Mangum. She worked full-time while studying political science at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. The couple met while working in Hampton, Va. and married in 1998.

“Marye couldn’t go a day without writing poetry,” Michael said. “Her creativity touched those she loved through the written word, in poems, notes and letters. She was an excellent correspondent, always kept in touch with people, and wrote constantly.”

Michael Cummings created the $60,000 scholarship for OSU students passionate about writing and planning to pursue a career as a writer. The Marye Lynn Cummings Endowed Scholarship benefits full-time graduate students studying English and creative writing, and will provide nearly $2,500 in annual support. The Marye Lynn Cummings Fellowship will be the largest fellowship gift the department has received.

“The Marye Lynn Cummings scholarship will provide the department the opportunity to fully support the work of a dedicated writer.  It may well make the difference in whether an aspiring writer is afforded the opportunity to fully develop his or her talents.  We are delighted to be able to honor in this way the memory of Marye Lynn Cummings, who herself found writing to be a source of personal fulfillment,” said Carol Moder, Department Head and Associate Professor of English. 

The OSU Creative Writing program is the home to nationally-recognized faculty and to gifted students, whose work has appeared in nationally prominent literary magazines.   This generous gift will enable the department to provide substantial support to a student who strives to devote his or her career to the art of writing.

“My hope is that this scholarship will motivate and reward excellent writers for their talent and determination,” remarked her husband. “By doing that, Marye will not be forgotten.”

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