Appendix 6 – SBS Grad Student Endowment Award Sources

The following descriptions provide some background behind the endowment sources used to fund SBS Graduate Student Research & Training fellowships.

Aase Fellowship in Honor of Andrew and Bertine Aase

Dr. Hannah Aase, PhD University of Chicago, 1914, was a member of the Plant Biology faculty at WSU for 35 years from 1914-1949 and was the first Emeritus Professor in the school. She began her career at WSU as she describes it as “instructor in anything whatsoever” which included teaching histology-anatomy and micro technique. Being widely admired, she was described as a remarkable lady. In a seminar on May 17, 1949, she presented a colorful history of Plant Biology at WSU from the very beginning of the university in midwinter of 1892. She continued to read technical journals into her 90’s. On the occasion of her 90th birthday one professor wrote, “You were always the eager ‘student,’ always sharp as a briar, but you had a way of living with your plants, in your garden and your laboratory, that gave you a peace of mind we all envied but were unable to emulate.”

The Aase Fellowship, in honor of Professor Hannah Aase, is used primarily for recruitment of new graduate students. This fellowship provides at least $2000 ($1,000 a year for two academic years) in stipend support above and beyond that of a student’s assistantship. The fellowship may be used as a stipend or for any purpose the recipient wishes.

Orlin and Susann Biddulph Endowment in Botany

Dr. Orlin Biddulph, PhD, University of Chicago, 1934, was a member of the Plant Biology faculty at WSU for 36 years from 1937-1973. He was an internationally known plant physiologist who investigated absorption and translocation of mineral elements, and metabolite and mineral translocation in the phloem. He also established a Molecular Biophysics Laboratory with a unique biological spectrograph for the irradiation of whole plants with monochromatic radiation, and electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, and chaired a Biophysics Program. Dr. Susann Biddulph completed her PhD in Botany at WSU in 1944. It was here that they met and were married, working together as research associates in the Department of Botany until retirement. The Biddulph Endowment was established by family, friends, and colleagues to honor both of their many achievements and contributions to the University community.

Howard E. Brewer Memorial Endowment in Botany

Howard Brewer was an Emeritus Professor in Plant Biology at Washington State University. The Howard E. Brewer Memorial Endowment was established by his nephew, Don Brewer, and several other family members to encourage and enhance the education experience of graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences who study plant biology. In addition to graduate fellowships, funds from this endowment are used to support the Howard Brewer Seminar Series in the School of Biological Sciences.

Brislawn Graduate Fellowship in Biological Sciences

The Brislawn Graduate Fellowship was established by the descendants of Guy and Mildred Brislawn to honor them and the many other members of the Brislawn family who have been associated with WSU for over 100 years.

Rexford Daubenmire Fund for Graduate Education

Dr. Rexford Daubenmire, PhD University Minnesota, 1935, was a member of the Plant Biology faculty from 1946-1975. A fund was established beginning in the fall, 1994, in honor of Professor Daubenmire. Support from this fund will be used for graduate student training in Plant Biology when an endowment level is achieved. “Dauby”, as he was universally known to generations of Plant Biology alumni, was an internationally renowned plant ecologist. During his highly productive career at WSU he supervised more than 35 PhD students and authored three widely used textbooks. His research interests spanned the field of plant ecology from drought and heat tolerance, symbiosis, fire ecology, ecotypic specialization, succession and soil deterioration in consequence of heavy grazing, and vegetation classification to ecologic plant geography. He was also a past president of the Ecological Society of America. Dauby has had a lasting influence on the world-wide stature and reputation of the Department of Plant Biology at WSU and set a high standard for scholarship and research that is continued in the School of BiologicalSciences.

Carl H. Elling Endowment in the School of Biological Sciences

The Carl H. Elling Endowment was established to support training and research opportunities for Plant Biology and Biology graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences.

Carl was born August 28, 1917, in Tacoma, WA and died August 5, 2007. Carl graduated from Washington State College in 1941 with a BS in Zoology. In WWII he flew the Pacific theater with the 494th Bomber Group. Carl worked as a Fishery Biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, with assignments in Alaska and at Bonneville Dam. He retired in 1974. Carl was an avid fisherman and bird hunter. He belonged to the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, the Washington Fly Fishing Club, and the Alberta International Ale and Quail Club.

Hardman Native Plant Award in Plant Biology

The Hardman Foundation promotes conservation biology. Research that promotes conservation biology includes projects in systematic Plant Biology that contribute to understanding of evolutionary development or regional native plant variation within species or species complexes.

Also important are studies of flowering plants considered rare, or that are depleted in range and need study, or require propagation for enrichment of their native range for use in botanical gardens or other suitable preserves. In addition, botanical investigations of geographical, climatological, and edaphic and biotic factors that have led to adaptation are important subjects of conservation research.

Hardman Native Plant Awards were established through a gift from the Hardman Foundation to support Plant Biology graduate student research in the School of Biological Sciences. In developing the award, the Hardman Foundation recognizes the importance of all botanists who identify with and support conservation biology. Therefore, the award is not restricted to any botanical discipline.

Betty Higinbotham Fellowship

Betty Higinbotham was the wife of Botany Department faculty member Noe Higinbotham. She was an accomplished botanist and shared her husband’s interest in nature. She was a writer and editor for several national publications and a freelance writer for scientific journals and nature magazines. She graduated from Butler University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in plant biology in 1932 and a Master’s degree in 1935.

The Betty W. Higinbotham Trust was established to fund training and research opportunities for Plant Biology graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences. Although priority for awards is given to students wishing to study marine algae at the Friday Harbor Oceanographic Laboratory, applications can also be made to support off-campus or other research in plant biology.

Noe Higinbotham Endowment in Botany

Dr. Higinbotham was an internationally recognized plant physiologist as well as devoted teacher and mentor. He was a member of the Plant Biology faculty from 1948-1978, and during that time he pioneered investigations into the electrical properties of plant cells, receiving national and international honors for his research and writing. He earned an A.B. degree from Butler University in 1937 and a PhD from Columbia University in 1941.

The Noe Higinbotham endowment was established through generous contributions from Betty Higinbotham and friends, colleagues, and students of Professor Higinbotham to support graduate student research and training in Plant Biology.

Howard Hosick Student Research Fund

The Howard Hosick Research Fund honors Howard Hosick, a member of Washington State University’s faculty for 34 years. Howard had a busy and productive career studying cancer, cell biology, and development.

James R. King Memorial Fund

The James R. King Memorial Fund honors James King, a long-term member of Washington State University’s faculty who studied the physiological ecology of birds.

Charles W. & William C. McNeil Memorial Graduate Fellowship

Charles Windslow McNeil was a longtime professor of Biology and a parasitologist at Washington State University. In 1946, Charles accepted a faculty position at WSU and began a long teaching and research career in Biology. Charles spent six months as a visiting scientist in the Department of Parasitology at the Alexandria University in Egypt in 1965-66. In 1964-65 and again in 1968-69, he served as acting chair of the biology department.

Charles married Edna Wiesner in 1940. Their children are a son, Earle W. McNeil; a daughter Ellen E McNeil; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A son William C. McNeil, preceded Charles in death. His wife, Edna, established this fund in loving memory of her husband and late son, William.

William C. McNeil earned his Ph. D in history in 1968. He was a professor of history at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York until his death in 1993. He and his wife Victoria had two children, Emily and Nathan.

J. Herman and Jean Kaye Swartz Graduate Fellowship

J. Herman Swartz was born in Spokane, WA on March 20, 1915, and passed away on January 10, 1996. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Kaye Swartz. Mr. Swartz earned his BS in Bacteriology in 1938 and an MS in Bacteriology in 1939 from Washington State College.

Mr. Swartz served in the medical corps for the Air Force from 1942 to 1945, during which he was the Chief of Laboratory at the station hospital on the island of Corsica. After the war, he graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in education. He was an instructor at Ohio Institute of Medical Technology in Cleveland, OH and later an assistant professor of Biology at Pacific University. The Swartz’s moved to Spokane in 1953 and soon purchased Triangle Nut House, nut roasting and distributing company. Mr. Swartz also helped found the Polar Cold Storage Company.

Mr. Swartz served on the boards of Eastern Washington University Foundation, Deaconess Hospital Foundation, and the Spokane Central Lions Foundation. From 1993–1995, Mr. Swartz was a volunteer researcher at EWU working with dental hygienists studying dental bacteria.

Smoot Hill Graduate Student Research Fund

The Smoot Hill Graduate Student Research Fund was established by Dr. George Hudson, a member of the faculty, curator of the Connor Museum, and Supervisor of the Smoot Hill Preserve for Biological study. Awards are made for floristic and faunistic studies conducted at Smoot Hill. Grant recipients can receive up to two summer months of support at the rate of a half-time researchassistant.

Student Research Endowment in Zoology

This award was established by a donation from the estate of Charles J. and June C. Campbell to fund student research in Zoology. Charles received his BS in Zoology from WSU in 1938. Although preference is given to undergraduates, SBS graduate students are also eligible for this award to support their research.