By Mark Campbell

Russell Boyd always admired his Faculty of Science colleague Gerry Dauphinee (BSc’47 MSc’53) particularly Dauphinee’s knowledge and approach to teaching students.

“His first-year class would always fill up quickly,” says Dr. Boyd, who served as Chair of Chemistry from 1992-2005. “He could seem very strict, but there was a twinkle in his eye and a softness to him that students appreciated. They liked the fact that he constantly challenged and encouraged them to reach their full potential.”

Leaving a legacy

Although he passed away in 2002, Dauphinee continues, in a way, to encourage new generations of chemistry students through the Gerry Dauphinee Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry. Soon after Gerry’s death a former student of his, Robie W. MacDonald (BSc’68, PhD’72), contacted Dr. Boyd to indicate he would like to be the first to contribute to a named scholarship fund in memory of Professor Dauphinee. Word spread and several other of Dauphinee’s former colleagues, friends and students also donated to the scholarship fund. Today the scholarship is presented to graduate students in the Department of Chemistry who have demonstrated academic excellence and a keen interest in research.

“We wanted to promote excellence in graduate research to help promising students receive the best possible education from Dalhousie, so they can go on to have very successful careers,” Dr. Boyd says.

One major supporter of the scholarship is Dauphinee’s wife, Sylvia. She was the first person in her family to go to university, an achievement that would not have been possible without access to scholarships. In that way, Sylvia’s ongoing contributions celebrate the generosity of donors who help make higher education possible for students who lack the wherewithal to make their academic dreams come true.

Supporting students

Helia Hollenhorst, PhD student and recipient of the Gerry Dauphinee Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry.

Even so, for students such as Helia Hollenhorst, the scholarship is more than a means of financial support. “It’s an acknowledgement of my hard work and a reminder to stay motivated to do the best I can,” says Helia, whose research into organometallic chemistry and catalysis could lead to more efficient, environmentally-friendly production of a range of essential products, such as medicines.

“Having that on my resume really speaks to my work ethic and helps me stand out from other graduates when it comes time to apply for a job. In that way, this scholarship does have a huge impact on my work now and in the future, so it is a real honour for me to receive it.”

Photo credit: Nick Pearce