University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law received a $1 million gift from alumnus Scott Bethune to establish the Scott S. Bethune Scholarship, an endowed fund for students from Southeast Missouri.
The scholarship is aimed at expanding access for in-state students and encouraging them to pursue legal careers in Kansas City, where demand for attorneys spans a range of practice areas.
Bethune, a native of Portageville, Missouri, said he hopes the fund will help more students see UMKC Law as a pathway to both affordability and long-term career opportunities.
At UMKC, Bethune found professional opportunities and lasting connections that kept him in Kansas City, where he built a successful career in personal injury, wrongful death and complex litigation, eventually co‑founding Davis, Bethune & Jones LLC with friends he met while they were law students at UMKC.
For prospective and current students, the new scholarship adds to a growing pool of financial support options at UMKC Law, with a focus on reducing debt and keeping talent in the region.
