Brown Scholarships Help ECE Students
8-17-09

Bev Brown speaks in a soft and kind voice like a grandmother might. And it’s fitting, because that’s what she says she feels like to the students who have benefitted from the Hal and Bev Brown Scholarships. “I feel like a grandparent in the background who is able to help support students who might not have grandparents who could help out financially.”

Brown made a $50,000 gift to endow the Hal and Bev Brown Scholarship in 2008 for students majoring in electrical and computer engineering. Her late husband, Hal, received a degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University in 1948 and worked for Pacific Northwest Bell for 31 years. “My husband always credited the education he received from OSU for his successful career,” said Brown. “I thought, what better way to honor him than with scholarships that will help students with need and merit.”

Travis Walters, a senior from West Linn, Ore. was one of four scholarship recipients last year. “The scholarship made it possible for me to pay for school without having a job during the year,” Walters said. “This reduces stress and lets me focus on learning. The time that this scholarship has freed up for me was so valuable for doing well in classes.”

Brown and Walters were able to meet during a gathering last fall. “It was really nice to have lunch with her and hear about her husband, and their experiences at OSU,” said Walters. “It’s a pleasure to meet someone who is so generous and wants to give back to OSU.”

Kathy Park, senior director of development for the College of Engineering, said Brown wants her gift to be used as an example to others to encourage them to donate to OSU. “Bev’s support of this outstanding engineering program is a model for how others can impact the lives of clever and talented students. Especially in these challenging times, we are so appreciative of Bev’s sponsorship of our students,” said Park.

Hal and Bev met at OSU in 1943. He had to suspend his education when he was called on to serve during World War II. “He was at home on furlough in 1944 when he asked me to marry him,” recalls Brown. “We were engaged for four years while he finished up his degree. We were married for 56 years.” Hal retired in 1981 from Pacific Northwest Bell where he was last the district manager in charge of engineering.