Missoula Duo Gives $7M to Boost Gonzaga Student Success

A pair of Missoula benefactors and entrepreneurs contributed seven million dollars to Gonzaga University. Their gift is aimed at launching a student success program and helping those whose state aid was cut.

Terry and Patt Payne, the founders of PayneWest Insurance, which they built in 1972 and later sold to a large insurance firm in 2023, are contributing two million dollars to the Gonzaga Promise Fund. Gonzaga said about 210 students in the incoming Class of 2029 saw their aid shrink after they had already enrolled.

The remaining five million goes to the Payne Student Success Initiative. The program blends big scholarships with one‑on‑one mentoring, guidance, peer groups and purposeful growth chances. Peer mentoring sits at the heart of the Payne program.

From the 2026‑27 school year, roughly 25 first‑gen students from four neighboring states will join the first Payne Student Success cohort. Each will get a $25,000 yearly scholarship plus personal mentoring, advising and tailored experiences. The goal is to boost leadership, job readiness and hands‑on learning for these students.