Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana, has announced a $10 million gift from the Mathile family to support renovations to Science Hall.

The largest private gift in the history of the college includes $1 million from board member Jennifer Mathile Prikkel (class of 1995) and $9 million from her parents, Mary Ann and Clayton Mathile. The announcement was timed to coincide with the end of the Celebrating the Education of Women in Science event at the private women's college. The gift will enable the college to modernize Science Hall through a multi-phase project to expand and refurbish labs, upgrade equipment and technology, and build new learning and study spaces. The improvements will benefit Saint Mary's biology, chemistry, physics, and nursing students.

"This transformational gift will provide facilities equal to the quality of our students and faculty," said Saint Mary's College president Carol Ann Mooney. "The Mathiles believe in the power of women's education, and they have invested in Saint Mary's College because we adhere to the Holy Cross tradition of educating both the mind and the heart. Saint Mary's has taught science to women for nearly 150 years, and this gift will ensure that our current and future students will work in cutting edge laboratories and classrooms."