The Department of Physics & Astronomy is committed to excellence in education. We have several endowed scholarship accounts as well as an Excellence Fund that supports visiting speakers, travel and scholarship opportunities for students, provides funding for student research opportunities, and other activities that help to enrich the educational experience overall. Gifts of any size help to support our outstanding graduate and undergraduate students and the department as a whole. Thank you!
PAUL A ANDERSON PRIZE ENDOWMENT
CLAIRE & WILLIAM BAND GRADUATE FELLOW-THEORETICAL PHYSICS
CLAIRE MAY BAND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN PHYSICS
CLAIRE & WILLIAM BAND DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP IN PHYSICS
PAUL A BENDER PHYSICS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
DICKINSON TOM & DIANE ENDOWMENT IN PHYSICS
The Physics Excellence Fund provide essential enrichment of student and faculty research, support for the quality of instruction, visiting scientists and professional travel, and other pressing needs of the department.
ASTRONOMY EXCELLENCE FUND
Principal from this fund shall be used to provide support to the university planetarium and the astronomy-associated functions of the department (observatory, speakers, public outreach, special events, equipment upgrades, etc).
PAUL A ANDERSON PRIZE ENDOWMENT
Dr. Paul A. Anderson was associated with Washington State University (formerly Washington State College) from 1931 to 1963. He was chair of the Department of Physics for 30 years. He initiated a program of research on electronic work functions at WSU, which led to the establishment of a number of work function values still accepted as standard.
Dr. Anderson’s enthusiasms inspired many science students. After earning his doctorate at Harvard University, he taught in Berlin, Germany and Peking, China. He was excited about the WSU Department of Physics and wanted to build it into the ‘best physics department west of the Mississippi.’
During World War II, Anderson and several colleagues won a contract from the Office of Scientific Research and Development to study radar waves. They experimented by sending radio signals from Mount Spokane to Steptoe Butte and the Blue Mountains. In winter they backpacked their equipment up the mountains over roads closed with drifted snow. Once they were mistaken for spies and could only explain that their mission was top secret and to please check with the Navy. Their work permitted detection of enemy vessels 600 miles away instead of the 150 that was formerly possible. At war’s end, Anderson was award the Presidential Certificate of Merit.
Dr. Anderson retired from WSU in 1963. He died in 1990 at the age of 92. He has two surviving sons, John H. Anderson of Bellingham, Washington, and James G. Anderson of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
CLAIRE & WILLIAM BAND GRADUATE FELLOW-THEORETICAL PHYSICS
William and his wife, Claire May spent a lifetime devoted to the study of physics. Dr. Band was a native of Liverpool, England and was educated at the University of Liverpool. After receiving his M.Sc. degree in 1927, he served as a lecturer at Liverpool until 1929. He then took a position as lecturer at Yenching University in Peking where he later served as assistant professor, professor and department chair until December 7, 1941. On that morning, he and his wife, Claire May, started a walk through the interior of China that lasted for two years and brought them to Chunking.
In Chungking he served as science representative in the British Embassy Liaison Office until January 1945. From 1947 to 1949 he was a research associate at the Institute of Metals at the University of Chicago. Dr. Band was professor of physics at WSU from 1949 to 1971 and department chairman from 1962 to 1966.
Band’s research was very broad ranging. During his early years he engaged in both theoretical and experimental work. Since 1939 his interests became almost exclusively theoretical. His seminal work on nucleation theory was noted by a 1972 NSF Workshop on Nucleation dedicated to him. Dr. Band was the author of well over a hundred scholarly papers.
CLAIRE MAY BAND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN PHYSICS
The Claire May Band scholarship was established by professor emeritus William Band in 1989 in loving memory of his wife, Claire May Band. William and Claire May spent a lifetime devoted to the study of physics. In his autobiography, Dr. Band described his wife as being an “enthusiastic and courageous” participant in all their “adventures”. This scholarship in physics was established in 1989 to recognize outstanding students in the physics program at Washington State University.
William Band was a native of Liverpool, England and was educated at the University of Liverpool. After receiving his M.Sc. degree in 1927, he served as a lecturer at Liverpool until 1929. He then took a position as lecturer at Yenching University in Peking where he later served as assistant professor, professor and department chair until December 7, 1941. On that morning, he and his wife, Claire May, started a walk through the interior of China that lasted for two years and brought them to Chunking.
In Chungking he served as science representative in the British Embassy Liaison Office until January 1945. From 1947 to 1949 he was a research associate at the Institute of Metals at the University of Chicago. Dr. Band was professor of physics at WSU from 1949 to 1971 and department chairman from 1962 to 1966.
Band’s research was very broad ranging. During his early years he engaged in both theoretical and experimental work. Since 1939 his interests became almost exclusively theoretical. His seminal work on nucleation theory was noted by a 1972 NSF Workshop on Nucleation dedicated to him. Dr. Band was the author of well over a hundred scholarly papers.
CLAIRE & WILLIAM BAND DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP IN PHYSICS
This fund has been endowed by Clair and William Band to carry forward their life-long commitment to education, scholarship and science.
For both Bill and Claire the commitment began at an early age, and for Bill it continued throughout his career at Liverpool University where at various times he received Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Science degrees. During this period Claire and Bill made many close friends and had many exciting adventures in China and the Orient which have been related in detail in their books “Dragon Fangs” and Two Years with the Chinese Communists,” and in his unpublished autobiography.
Bill’s D.Sc. degree opened up opportunities in America that stimulated their mutual devotion to such a degree that they became known as the “Duet,” and remembered fondly from the tribute. Bill was widely published in his specialty and was honored following his retirement for his research on cluster theory at the First International Nucleation Theory Workshop held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972. Bill and Claire remained active in retirement, deeply appreciated by colleagues and friends for their intelligence and unfailing good humor. All were saddened by Claire’s passing away in 1988. It is Bill’s devotion to Claire an d to the ongoing pursuit of new knowledge in the physical sciences which stimulated the establishment of this fund.
The purposed of this fund is to establish a Distinguished Professorship in Physics.
PAUL A BENDER PHYSICS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
This award is given in memory of Paul A Bender who was a professor of physics at WSU from 1960-1989. Dr. Bender received the bachelor and master degrees from Grinnell College and Washington University in St. Louis and the PhD at the University of Colorado in 1960. His first faculty position was at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri. He and Dian then moved west to join the WSU community. His research focus was in geophysics, where he pioneered the use of electron spin resonance for characterizing igneous rocks. His courses in optics, mechanics, and geophysics were popular, as he delighted in bringing dramatic demonstrations of the way things work to the classroom and laboratory. As a result, many exhibits and working experiments were developed which have delighted students and visitors alike. Paul Bender died in July, 1989 of Marfan’s Syndrome at 58 year old.
DICKINSON TOM & DIANE ENDOWMENT IN PHYSICS
The College of Arts and Sciences is proud of the many excellent research opportunities that we offer to our undergraduate majors. Undergraduates work, often along with graduate students, in the laboratories of our finest and most productive faculty. Students learn how to use advanced research equipment and how to perform the latest research procedures. This hands-on experience is often cited by businesses and industries as one of the top reasons they prefer to hire Washington State University science graduates. This endowment will support the undergraduate research program in Physics.
ED & VIRGINIA DONALDSON SURFACE SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP
This fellowship is established in honor of Edward E. Donaldson, professor emeritus in the Department of Physics. It is a gesture to recognize Edward Donaldson’s years of contribution to the fields of vacuum, surface, and fracture sciences.
MILES & MURIEL DRESSER ENDOWMENT FUND
Miles Dresser served on the Physics faculty from 1963-2001. He rose through the ranks to Full Professor, was appointed as the Boeing Distinguished Professor of Science and Math Education, and also served as Interim Chair of Physics. Professor Dresser was Associate Chair of Physics for Undergraduate Studies and served as a major advisor to Physics students 1989-2001.
Muriel Dresser served as a Library Technician in the Owne Science and Engineering Library from 1982-1998. She was also a church musician and directed Church choirs in the Pullman Community for 35 year.
This fund was established not only to encourage the students of Physics to continue their studies of Physics but also to continue their education with breadth in the Liberal Arts tradition of complementary efforts in other areas on campus.
GEORGE DUVALL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
This fellowship is established in honor of George Duvall, professor emeritus in the Department Physics. This fund is a gesture to recognize George Duvall’s years of contribution to the fields of shock compression science, and its development as a recognizable discipline in physics.
HARRY GEOFFREY HOPKINS MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT
Established in 1983 by the estate of Harry Geoffrey Hopkins, former post-doctoral fellow in physics, in support of theoretical mathematical physics research.
LA RUE FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN PHYSICS
several members of the LaRue family have associations with Washington State University. George S. LaRue became a faculty member in electrical engineering in the fall of 2001. His father, Jerrold A. LaRue attended WSU for 1.5 years as a physical sciences major. World War II interrupted his education here and he graduated in Meteorology from UCLA after the war. Jean LaRue, Jerrold’s brother, obtained his B.S. in mathematics from WSU in 1943. The LaRue family wishes to assist future students in the Department of Physics with an annually awarded scholarship.
NON-LINEAR OPTICS RESEARCH FUND
This fund was established to support research in non-linear optics.
PHYSICS RESEARCH FUND
This fund was established to support physics research.
PHYSICS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Established by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, this fund is intended to provide scholarship support for students majoring in Physics while attending Washington State University.
RALPH F. SIMMONS JR. FELLOWSHIP IN PHYSICS
The Ralph F. Simmons, Jr. Graduate Fellowship in Physics was established by his wife Linda as a surprise for his retirement on June 2, 2007. The endowment was to honor Ralph and his outstanding career at Hewlitt Packard (HP).
Ralph was born, raised, and graduated from high school in North Dighton, Massachusetts. After spending three in the Army as a nuclear weapons specialist, he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in 1975 from Lowell Technological Institute (now University of Massachusetts at Lowell). He headed west to study theoretical physics with Dr. James Park at Washington State University. He earned his master’s in 1977 and his doctorate in 1979.
Ralph was hired by HP’s Disc Memory Division in the spring of 1979. During his 28-year career at HP, he became an internationally recognized authority on magnetic recording. Ralph holds several patents, many publications and the title “Distinguished Scientist.” Less than one percent of HP’s engineers and physicists receive this honor, which is based on a rigorous set of criteria including contributing major lasting technical impact on HP business, displaying leadership in technical prowess, collaboration and knowledge sharing, and demonstrating abilities to identify emerging technologies and opportunities that span technical disciplines and products.
Ralph met his wife while at WSU and they have two children and several grandchildren.
S TOWN STEPHENSON LECTURESHIP FUND
The S. Town Stephenson Lectureship is an endowed fund used to bring distinguished lecturers to the campus. It honors the late S. Town Stephenson who came to WSU from Yale University in 1934. His research in physical sciences at WSU is primarily noted for his studies of the propagation of radar waves and the low energy x-ray region. An engaging lecturer with a lively sense of humor, Stephenson served Washington State University as Chair of the Physical Sciences Division, Dean of Faculty, and Vice President. He died on December 15, 1964.
DISTINGUISHED COLLOQUIUM SERIES (DONATE VIA PHYSICS EXCELLENCE FUND, ADD TO TITLE TO COMMENTS)
The Distinguished Colloquium Series was established to highlight a handful of prominent speakers throughout the academic year. These lectures feature a reception following, giving the our department and the public to meet the speaker.