Alumnus honors Professor Ellis with scholarship

Steven Hentges, Ph.D., has endowed a scholarship in honor of Professor John Ellis, called the Professor John E. Ellis Scholarship.

Hentges graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He was a National Science Foundation undergraduate research participant during the summer of 1974, and conducted research in Professor Ellis' group for about two years. Hentges still holds the undergraduate record for co-authoring the most articles from research done in Ellis' research group—three. He received his doctorate from Stanford University where he worked with Nobel Laureate K. Barry Sharpless.

In establishing the scholarship endowment, Hentges notes that as a teacher, mentor, and friend, Professor Ellis was an important influence in helping him reach his undergraduate educational goal. "More importantly, the opportunities that he provided [for me] to develop while at the University provided a strong foundation [for me] to succeed in graduate school and a career in the chemical industry," Hentges wrote.

The scholarship award will be given to students with an interest in majoring in chemistry. It will be awarded to new students with academic promise, and is renewable for three additional years pending satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree. The scholarship can be used to cover the costs of tuition, fees, and academic books.

This scholarship qualifies for a match from the University of Minnesota, doubling the impact of the gift.