A Kansas University alumnus and his wife have donated $1.6 million to establish the Michael A. Cummings Scholarship for architecture students at KU, with a preference for those from rural communities.

The gift is part of a $2 million donation by Cummings and his wife, Pamela Miller, of Kansas City, Mo., KU Endowment announced Monday. The donation also includes $400,000 for Reach Out and Read Kansas City, a nonprofit coalition based at KU Medical Center.

Cummings, who grew up in Burlington, earned bachelor’s degrees in environmental design and architectural engineering from KU in 1983, according to KU Endowment. He is a principal with the international firm of TK Architects, where he has worked since graduation.

Cummings said there’s a difference in resources available to students from small towns.