Science scholarship honours local geologist's legacy

NEWS RELEASE
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY
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SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH. – A Rudyard, Mich., couple have created a scholarship that will benefit any student majoring in the physical and natural sciences at Lake Superior State University. Papers formalizing the Richard W. White Memorial Scholarship were signed by Sally and Robert Wiles with LSSU President Peter Mitchell. White was Sally’s brother.

Richard (Dick) White graduated from Rudyard High School in 1954. He enrolled at the Soo Branch of Michigan College of Mining & Technology – as LSSU was known until 1966 - after earning an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps.

White is remembered as a focused geology student, mentored by LSSU Professor Ernie Kemp, and became well known and respected at Soo Tech and Michigan Tech.

After receiving a doctorate from the University of California - Berkley, he traveled the world working for the U.S. Geological Survey, with his last stop being at USGS headquarters in Denver, Colo. An untimely death in 1976 from Leukemia at age 40 abruptly halted White’s ever-growing list of geological discoveries.

Sally (White) and Robert Wiles, are retired educators. Sally taught in the Rudyard Area Schools K-12 classes, while Bob worked in administration and vocational education at the EUP Intermediate School District.

The Wiles are strong advocates of public K-12, vocational, and higher education. Both currently serve on the board of the Chippewa-Mackinac Counties Association of School Personnel.

To learn about establishing a scholarship or supporting an existing fund at Lake Superior State University, contact the LSSU Foundation at 906-635-2665 or [email protected]. Those who wish to make a gift may also visit lssu.edu/give.

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