New Scholarship to Benefit Students with Learning Challenges

The 1987 graduate has given $62,000 to establish the Paukune Undergraduate Scholarship Endowment in the UM College of Liberal Arts. First preference for the scholarship will be given to full-time liberal arts students with documented learning disabilities as recorded with the university's Office of Student Disability Services.

"School was always incredibly challenging for me," said Paukune, who has dysgraphia and dyslexia. "It always seemed like everything was just so much work."

Dysgraphia affects the speed and legibility of writing while dyslexia influences the accuracy and speed of reading and spelling.

The American College Health Association surveyed college students during the 2024-25 academic year and found that 17.2% of undergraduates reported that they have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and 5.7% have been diagnosed with other learning disorders. Among graduate students, 15% reported that they have ADHD and 2.5% have other learning disorders.

"Students with learning disabilities get frustrated at an early age and put limits on themselves," Paukune said. "I want these students to be directly recognized, because if you have learning differences, it doesn't mean you're not smart. In fact, chances are you're really smart, but grades just don't come easy.

"What I realized once I passed all the tests that got me out of the academic environment and into my career, work was much easier. I enjoyed it and I was able to achieve success."

Paukune credits his Ole Miss education for his professional success, adding that he hopes his gift will encourage learning-challenged students to stay the course.

"My liberal arts degree taught me how to learn and how to use information, not just to be stagnant with it, but to apply it," he said. "Specifically, like political science and history, which were my majors, those are things you apply to your life. You learn from the past, then apply it to the present and future."

When Paukune got into junior- and senior-level classes, he found that smaller class sizes meant that every student was expected to contribute to class discussions.

"You couldn't just sit in the back row and hide; you had to engage," he said. "That forced me to be able to articulate my ideas, my thoughts, my opinions. And that was incredibly helpful to my career."

The donor is a managing director, private client adviser and institutional client adviser with Bank of America Private Bank in Fort Worth, where he leads a team of wealth and investment specialists. With more than 25 years of experience, Paukune is skilled in providing unified investment, wealth strategy, legacy and philanthropic advice for his clients.

His areas of focus include significant transactions, such as art, plane, yacht, ranch and real estate financing, as well as liquidity events and new business ventures. He also works with clients who are actively building their wealth, helping them evaluate options and make informed decisions about their long-term finances.

Lee Cohen, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, expressed gratitude for Paukune's gift.

"This gift reflects a personal understanding of both the challenges and the extraordinary potential of students who learn differently," Cohen said. "This scholarship sends a powerful message that intellectual ability is not defined by a single pathway and that perseverance, curiosity and support can change lives."

Between graduating from Ole Miss and joining Bank of America in 2007, Paukune worked for Lehman Brothers, pursued a career in politics in Washington, D.C., and – as a member of the Apache tribe of Oklahoma – started the investment firm Apache Securities. After selling the firm, he began working for Texas Commerce Bank, which was ultimately acquired by JP Morgan Chase.

He serves on the boards of Streams and Valleys and All Saint's Episcopal School in Fort Worth. He is an active volunteer with Hope International in Zimbabwe.

The Paukune Undergraduate Scholarship Endowment is open to support from businesses and individuals. Gifts can be made by sending a check, with the fund's name noted on the memo line, to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655, or by clicking here to give online.

For more information, contact Delia Childers, associate director of development for the College of Liberal Arts, at dgchilde@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3086.

Top: Students with learning disabilities often face challenges in completing college course work and earning good grades, but alumnus Mark Paukune hopes to encourage students with documented learning disabilities to earn their degrees. He has established the Paukune Undergraduate Scholarship Endowment in the College of Liberal Arts. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services