By Tina V. Bryson
Outlook editor
I didn't know Anthony Andrews, but I wish I had. I think that was the point behind Ken Brown's Bicentennial Campaign gift to establish the Anthony R. J. Andrews Memorial Scholarship Fund in forensic chemistry.
"Anthony was a bright and energetic young analytical chemist. He died of cancer in September," said Brown, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "He was a particularly student-oriented faculty member who impacted the careers and lives of hundreds of our students as adviser, mentor and friend. Thousands of students will miss the many years of enthusiastic support and guidance they would have gotten from Anthony had he lived the long life he should have had.
"I wanted to have a way to keep his memory alive in the department. I thought a scholarship would be a good way to do this," he added. "Each year when we announce the winner of the scholarship, it will give me a chance to talk about Anthony and keep his spirit alive and known to our students."
During his seven years in the Department of Chemistry at Ohio University, Andrews co-directed the undergraduate forensic chemistry program, taught in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum and pursued his research interests in the analytical uses of chemiluminescence, novel stationary phases for gas and liquid chromatography and novel sampling methods for rapid gas chromatographic analysis.
Brown planted the seed with a $1,000 gift and is working to get the scholarship endowed.
"Anthony's career at Ohio University was distinguished most notably by his regard for his students and the seemingly endless amount of time he was always willing to devote to them. I figured if we could reach the minimum for an endowed scholarship ($15,000), then this annual remembrance of Anthony could go on long after I've retired and even after all of us who knew and worked with Anthony were long gone," Brown said.
"Everyone who is considering giving to the Bicentennial Campaign must have some reason why. People should think about the sense of fulfillment they can get from making a donation to something they believe in," he said. "Helping students, such as funding scholarships, is certainly a good way to do this."
Look in next week's Outlook for the spotlight on employee groups that have funded scholarships at Ohio University. Scholarship recipients will also be featured.
