Match Opportunity: A generous donor is matching all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000.
"It was all because of Gordon's love for the ocean and his impact on students while he worked with us that we created this scholarship to benefit young people with a passion for the ocean."
–UC Santa Cruz marine biologist Baldo Marinovic
The late J. Gordon Smith worked for UC Santa Cruz's Institute for Marine Sciences from 1986 to 2003 as the skipper of the David Johnston, a 43-foot research vessel used by scientists at the Long Marine Lab and the U.S. Geological Survey. Gordon provided enthusiastic help and support to scores of faculty, researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate classes who needed access to the coastal waters of California. To honor his life and passion for research and education on the water, his family, friends, and former colleagues established an endowed scholarship to encourage undergraduates pursuing marine sciences at UC Santa Cruz.
Now, every year, a young aspiring marine biologist in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology will receive the Gordon Smith Memorial Scholarship to pursue their dreams of studying the world in the waters of Monterey Bay and beyond. In 2019, Echo Vanier received the scholarship and said, "I cannot express how incredible this opportunity was and is. I will forever appreciate what this scholarship allowed me to achieve."
Join us today in celebrating Gordon's life and contribute to the growing number of students who are making our marine world better for all of us.
The community of students, faculty, staff, and researchers at the Long Marine Lab thanks you.
A generous anonymous donor will match your gift today up to $1,000.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CA | 16 |
| 2 | OR | 1 |
| 3 | AA | 0 |
