Carly MurphyAspiring young scientists pursuing education at Chapman University have a new opportunity to fuel their dreams, courtesy of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation and its longest-serving board member.
On October 3rd, the foundation unveiled a $1 million endowment, establishing the Wescombe STEM Scholarship at Chapman University’s Schmid College of Science and Technology . This scholarship, honoring the retiring Beckman Foundation board member, Gary Wescombe, was officially launched at the Keck Center for Science and Engineering.
Schmid College Dean, Michael Ibba, expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s support, stating, “It’s a nice recognition from a major national foundation – that they see us as a place to train top STEM scholars in Orange County.”
Commencing in the fall of 2024, the Wescombe STEM Scholarship is a four-year initiative that will annually support two students hailing from Orange County, majoring in science fields. These scholars will receive invaluable mentoring, both from faculty and their peers.
Gary Wescombe, who served on the foundation’s board for 25 years and held the position of chairman, expressed his eagerness to witness the accomplishments of scholarship recipients, stating, “We as a family, look forward to meeting and following the recipients of the scholarships to see what they are able to accomplish.”
Reflecting on the legacy of Arnold Beckman and the foundation’s mission, Wescombe added, “Arnold Beckman loved science, he loved Orange County, and he loved youth. George Argyros was a big supporter of Chapman and he got me involved initially in the Beckman Foundation. Accordingly, I decided a science scholarship should be provided at Chapman.”
Chapman President Daniele C. Struppa lauded the significance of the gift, saying, “The Wescombe STEM Scholarship will help us cultivate more homegrown talent in the sciences and send more Chapman graduates to Orange County’s STEM industry.”
In addition to the Wescombe STEM Scholarship, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation also funds the Beckman Scholar Program, offering crucial support to Chapman undergraduates engaged in research projects alongside distinguished science faculty.
Five Beckman Scholars and their faculty mentors were present at the Wescombe STEM Scholarship announcement, highlighting the program’s impact on students’ scientific journeys.
Emma Kocik, a Beckman Scholar, shared her transformative experience, stating, “When I first started my undergraduate career here at Chapman as a chemistry major, I was very hesitant in my ability to be successful in the sciences. But I was very fortunate to have excellent professors and mentors here at Chapman who helped me build my identity as a scientist, and encouraged me to try to research out early on.” Kocik, now a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasized the critical role of support from both the Beckman Foundation and Chapman in her scientific journey.
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About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners.The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 60 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.
