Drs. Carol and Arthur Merkle of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. have contributed nearly $60,000 to establish The Carol B. Merkle Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will provide scholarships in the Department of Art and Art History. Nearly half of the Merkle’s gift was also matched in 2009 as part of a challenge grant by the Windgate Charitable Foundation that pledged to give an equal amount up to $500,000 for studio arts scholarships. Dr. Carol Merkle is a 1978 graduate of The University of Alabama. Both she and her husband, Arthur, graduated from The University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1983. Carol Merkle serves on the executive council and Arthur Merkle serves on the leadership council for the UA School of Dentistry Alumni Association.