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CORVALLIS - The May Department Stores Co., headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., has contributed $35,000 to the Oregon 4-H Foundation to establish the Judith K. Hofer Scholarship Endowment at Oregon State University in honor of Hofer's recent retirement from the company.

The endowment will create an annual $1,500 scholarship for a female student at OSU who has at least five years of 4-H experience and is majoring in merchandising management or business.

The Oregon 4-H Foundation manages private gifts to the 4-H program of the OSU Extension Service.

Hofer, a Hillsboro native, retired in July as the CEO of May Merchandising following a 33-year career with May Department Stores Co. She began her career in 1961 at Meier & Frank, the department store company May operates in Oregon, Washington and Utah.

Hofer served as president and chief executive officer of Meier & Frank and three other May department store divisions during her career. She was the first woman to serve as a CEO in the company.

Since 1911, the OSU Extension Service 4-H program has developed youth and adult potential, strengthened families, and improved communities through the use of research-based, non-formal, experiential learning programs. Today, nearly 6,000 adult volunteers and 62,000 4-H youth members are involved in these activities.