BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA — The John E. Greivenkamp Endowed Scholarship in Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences just doubled. SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, has matched the existing $35,000 endowment to strengthen the fund at $70,000.

The endowment supports Wyant College third- and fourth-year undergraduate students with the stated additional goal of “instilling an appreciation of how the historical foundation of optics leads to future innovations in optical instruments.”

Greivenkamp, a longtime professor at University of Arizona who passed away on 29 January, was renowned for his prowess and innovation as an educator as well as for his collection of antique telescopes and optical instruments, the basis for the Museum of Optics at Wyant College.

An SPIE Member for more than 26 years, Greivenkamp became a Fellow in 1996, and was the Society's President in 2020. He served on numerous SPIE committees — including the Strategic Planning and Symposia Committees — and as chair of the Publications Committee from 2011 through 2014. Greivenkamp also served as series editor of the popular SPIE Field Guides and authored the first book in the series, Field Guide to Geometrical Optics.

“It’s a privilege to be contributing to the John E. Greivenkamp Endowed Scholarship in Optical Sciences in this way,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “John was an amazing educator with a real commitment and drive to support his students’ successes, and we are truly happy to help ensure that his legacy — both in terms of his passion for educating the next generation of optical scientists and his passion for optical instrumentation — will continue.”

To apply for — or contribute to — the John E. Greivenkamp Endowed Scholarship in Optical Sciences please visit the Wyant College of Optical Sciences website.