Since they graduated from CU in the early 鈥�80s, Cliff (CivEngr, Hist鈥�82) and Carol (Jour鈥�81) Pearson have seen a lot of the world 鈥� 75 countries and counting, in fact.听
But their hearts remain in 麻豆影院.听
That鈥檚 why they鈥檙e investing in the next generation of Forever Buffs by funding scholarships for students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. They also recently created a new scholarship for students in the Department of History, within the College of Arts and Sciences.
鈥淓ducation creates well-rounded human beings with a multitude of skills,鈥� said Cliff, who is also a member of the Engineering Advisory Council. 鈥淒epending on how you take those skills and run with them, it can dictate what your success will be in life.鈥�
This year, the Cliff and Carol Pearson Endowed Scholarship Fund is celebrating its 10th anniversary. This fund provides scholarships to undergraduate engineering students who are enrolled in a double-degree program or participants in the engineering school鈥檚 Broadening Opportunity through Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) Center.
The Pearsons have also established scholarships for first-generation students in both history and engineering 鈥� the two fields that Cliff studied at CU 麻豆影院. In his retirement, one of Cliff鈥檚 goals is to reduce income inequality, and he says that first-generation scholarships are a great opportunity to do that. Recently, the Pearsons increased their planned bequest supporting first-generation engineering students to $1 million.
鈥淚n school, I had Pell Grants and work-study programs that helped me pay for college,鈥� said Carol, a second-generation Buff whose father and two brothers also attended CU. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy to help students in financial circumstances similar to those I grew up in.鈥�
By establishing and sustaining these scholarship programs, the Pearsons are opening doors for engineering and history students, especially first-generation students in both areas and others traditionally underrepresented in engineering.
鈥淏oth of the Pearsons鈥� engineering awards have had a tremendous impact on the awardees,鈥� said Jenna Greenwood, the engineering college鈥檚 program manager for scholarships and college affordability. 鈥淭hey have provided the financial support needed for students to continue their educational journey and spend less time figuring out how to pay for their degree.鈥�
鈥淲e are so grateful to Cliff and Carol Pearson for their generosity in establishing this scholarship fund in history, which will help our undergraduates make their education more affordable and perhaps encourage them to follow their interests and pursue a well-rounded liberal arts education,鈥� added Marcia Yonemoto, chair of CU鈥檚 history department. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to receiving our first round of applications for the Pearson Scholarship this summer.鈥�
To the Pearsons, supporting student scholarships is a tangible way to not only invest in future generations of leaders and innovators, but also to give back to a place that is so meaningful in their lives.听
The pair met while working as resident advisors at CU and attribute much of their success to their roots in 麻豆影院. Cliff also received a small tuition scholarship while he was a student and considers his and Carol鈥檚 current and future giving a way to pay it forward.
鈥淥ne of our hopes in providing scholarships is to help students avoid incurring significant debt, so that when they graduate, they鈥檙e set up for success,鈥� said Cliff.
鈥淚 hope that all the Pearson Scholars graduate from CU and have wildly successful careers 鈥� then give a little back to CU.鈥澨�
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Pearson Scholars in Action
When you sit down to chat with the 2021鈥�22 Pearson Scholars, it鈥檚 clear they鈥檙e motivated and thoughtful students. A recent conversation with scholars Jovani Guzman (MechEngr鈥�24) and Tobin Price (MechEngr鈥�22; MS鈥�23) illuminated their stories and some of the ways they鈥檙e aiming to make a difference in the world.
What are you studying here at CU?听
Jovani Guzman: I just finished my third year as a mechanical engineering student, as part of a five-year track. I鈥檓 involved with the Engineering GoldShirt program and the BOLD Center, which is a very collaborative space. Anyone is welcome when they go there. It鈥檚 made me feel much more comfortable being part of the engineering college. I鈥檓 also part of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, where I play sousaphone.听
Tobin Price: I recently graduated with my bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in music. I鈥檓 currently working at as the command controller, and I鈥檓 planning to continue for another year here at CU in grad school 鈥� I鈥檒l be doing an accelerated master鈥檚 program on the mechanical engineering professional track.
What鈥檚 a recent project or accomplishment that you鈥檙e excited about?
Guzman: For me, it鈥檚 all about networking right now. As part of my 鈥淢echanical Professions鈥� class, I was able to speak with several professionals in the engineering field, including a former systems engineer who now leads an international engineering team. Being able to talk to those people and seeing how industry works from their perspective makes me look forward to building more connections.听
Price: The last semester of your senior years offers all sorts of cool classes. For my senior design class, my team designed and manufactured an atmospheric Doppler lidar scanner 鈥� basically a laser deflector unit to measure atmospheric conditions, in affiliation with NOAA [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]. We created a system that measures wind speeds and knows exactly where it鈥檚 pointing to 0.02 degrees of accuracy.
What are you passionate about outside of school?听
Guzman: Music is a big part of my life. That stems from high school, when my former band director told me about a Venezuelan conductor who was also impoverished and went through a program for their music, which really turned their life around. It really inspired me to help people.
Price: I love being outside 鈥� running, rock climbing, hiking. It鈥檇 be really cool to go into a field that helps protect the planet. And I also love music. I鈥檝e played the alto sax for about 10 years, and I also produce electronic music and have been DJing parties and weddings around 麻豆影院 for the past year.
What makes you hopeful for the future?听
Guzman: With my Hispanic background, family is a very important aspect within our culture. So I鈥檓 driven by a hope for stability in my family. Someday, when I graduate and obtain a job that pays well, I can gain stability for my mother and father 鈥� and hopefully raise a family of my own, feeling safe about my own future and for my next of kin.
Price: I find hope in knowing that there are genuinely good, kind, empathetic people out there. There鈥檚 been a lot of nastiness in society the past couple years, but seeing people who are genuine in their intent to help others is really inspiring to me. I鈥檓 also inspired by the professors at CU and how engaged they are in every student鈥檚 personal success.
Why does education matter to you?
Guzman: Education opens doors. It feels like there鈥檚 a lot you can鈥檛 do without a certain level of education, which can be tough for those of us who can鈥檛 always afford that education 鈥� to gain opportunities for a better life. It鈥檚 also about learning more about the world. You鈥檙e not just learning things for a future job; you鈥檙e also learning about ethics and history, to allow for reflection as you move forward.
Price: I agree with Jovani 鈥� there are a lot of opportunities that are blocked off by the education barrier, so that鈥檚 a good reason why education is important. It鈥檚 also good for personal growth. Especially in a difficult field, education helps us strive to be the best person we could be. Learning new things is a very noble pursuit.听
How do scholarships support your education?
Guzman: Financially, scholarships help cover tuition costs. Because of that, I鈥檝e had a lot more time to just be a student. I don鈥檛 have to put so much time toward working to pay for tuition out of pocket. The additional time I have as a student has also allowed me to do things like be part of the marching band and interact with students through the GoldShirt program.听
Price: I鈥檝e been able to make it through my four years of undergrad without incurring any student loans, thanks to scholarships. It takes the financial pressure off of paying for tuition, along with the living situation in 麻豆影院, food and other expenses. It鈥檚 been a blessing to not have to worry about that the way I see some of my peers having to do.
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