Alumni Spotlight:
Marilyn O'Neill Helps Students REAP Benefits

When Marilyn O’Neill, ’74, joined her husband, Kevin O’Neill, ’72, on a three-year contract job in South Africa for SBC International, she saw poverty and hunger firsthand. The experience convinced her that higher education could help solve such problems. Returning to Texas in 2002, the former political science major redoubled her commitment to the mission of St. Edward’s.

Marilyn had already served as a devoted alumna in activities spanning volunteering at informational events for graduating high school seniors to serving on the Alumni Association’s board of directors from 1994 to 1999, and as board chair from 1998 to 1999. But after her stay in South Africa, she knew she had to do more.

Through her career at Keller Williams Realty, Marilyn found a novel way to fund a scholarship at St. Edward’s. A year ago, she and Kevin created a referral rewards program, the Real Estate Affinity Program. When interested buyers or sellers of real estate call her before finding an agent, she refers them to an agent in their locale, who gives the client a cash-back bonus. The referred agent also gives Marilyn a referral fee, 100 percent of which she contributes to the Christopher James Berry Scholarship fund, created in the name of the O’Neills’ nephew. The O’Neills hope the scholarship, once fully funded, will help keep the university’s retention rate high.

“When you reaped such rewards from your education, it’s only natural you would want someone else to have that same experience,” she says.

Last fall, the university invited Marilyn to join the board of trustees. “I never thought I could be one of them,” she says. “This is the ultimate compliment to a former student.”

Marilyn shares her affinity to St. Edward’s with Kevin, a fellow student she met at school. They regularly volunteer for alumni projects on campus or in San Antonio, where they live. On March 8, the O’Neill’s hosted a reception in San Antonio for President George E. Martin.

“We do everything together,” says Marilyn. “That’s how we can accomplish what we do. He’s the quiet person, and I’m the cheerleader.”