Steve and Linda Patton established the Stephen R. Patton Scholarship in 1999 to support undergraduates in the Department of Political Science who demonstrate meritorious academic record.

Stephen Patton received his B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University in 1975 and went on to earn his law degree in 1978 from Georgetown University. Stephen Patton is executive officer in the Law Firm of Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago.