UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alumni Brian and Terri Green said three reasons sparked their decision to establish the Robert and Florence Green Memorial Scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
First, they wanted others to have the same benefits they experience from a college education. Second, they believe investments in education aimed at reshaping global energy use will have cascading benefits for people worldwide. Lastly, they wanted to honor Brian Green’s blue-collar parents, for whom the scholarship is named.
The couple hopes the scholarship will benefit hard-working students with a passion for paying it forward and who might need a little extra support to achieve those goals.
“Our hope is this economic benefit provided by this memorial scholarship creates the opportunity for students to attain a world-class education, thrive in their chosen career and ultimately remind them to plant another seed,” said Brian Green. “I hope it helps students who want to change things.”
Brian Green said so many global problems — whether they are geopolitical, technical or meteorological — can be solved by creative energy solutions. That’s why the scholarship aims to help students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, where he believes advances in clean energy, fossil fuel technology, materials sciences and meteorology will better position the world to respond to future energy dilemmas.
“Penn State has the opportunity to educate future leaders in each of these critical topics,” said Brian Green. “Hopefully students who benefit from this scholarship will take leadership roles in changing our futures for the better.”
William Easterling, dean of the college of EMS, said scholarships like this open doors for students looking to make an impact.
“Our students will no doubt move into fields tasked with finding energy solutions while remaining stewards of the environment,” said Easterling. “Scholarships better position our students to enter the workforce looking to improve the quality of life for everyone.
Brian Green, a first-generation college graduate, said his parents instilled in him the value of a quality education.
“They taught our family that education is permanent,” he said. “No matter one’s fate, he or she always has the education to guide them and improve their lives as well as the lives of others. Education is paramount to personal success and global improvement.”
Robert Green, a World War II veteran, was a machinist who was fascinated with engineering and scientific advancements, particularly materials science gains related to the health care industry. Florence Green often ‘engineered’ solutions to household issues, said Brian Green.
“Though they would shy away from the recognition, they would be proud to know that through this scholarship they are assisting deserving students to achieve their dreams and, in the process, produce a better world,” he said.
The Greens, both Penn State alumni, said education opened doors, enabling them to be in a position to help others reap similar rewards. Brian graduated with a bachelor of science in petroleum and natural gas engineering and spent his early career as a reservoir engineering consultant with Core Laboratories Engineering Consulting Department. He completed his career at and retired from Bank of America as vice president and senior petroleum engineer of the Energy Banking Group. During his tenure he was responsible for technical and economic evaluations including reserve evaluations of global energy projects, developments and corporations to support energy financings.
Penn State’s alumni and friends are invaluable partners in fulfilling the University’s land-grant mission of education, research and service. Private gifts from alumni and friends enrich the experiences of students both in and out of the classroom, expand the research and teaching capacity of our faculty, enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty, and help to ensure that students from every economic background have access to a Penn State education. The University’s colleges and campuses are now enlisting the support of alumni and friends to advance a range of unit-specific initiatives.