Family establishes scholarship in memory of Clemson engineering alumnus
November 1, 2011
CLEMSON, SC – November 1, 2011 – A $100,000 gift from his family will provide for a scholarship inhonor of a Clemson University alumnus who died last year.
The Robert D. Wilroy Jr. Memorial Scholarship in Chemical Engineeringwill be given to undergraduate students in the department from whichWilroy graduated in 1981. The scholarship fund is established by hisparents, Robert David Wilroy Sr. and Marian Cocke Wilroy of Columbia.
In a career spanning nearly three decades, Wilroy specialized inprocess design and cost estimating in the chemical and pulp and paperindustries. As an employee of J.E. Sirrine Engineers, later JacobsEngineering Group Inc., he worked on numerous major pulp and paperplants throughout the Southeast, as well as in Maine, Michigan and NewMexico. At the time of his death on Nov. 2, 2010, Wilroy was employed byJacobs in Greenville.
As his colleagues can attest, Bob was always willing to listen andhelp others, and he had a passion for helping young engineers developtheir careers, said Robert Wilroy Sr. We are gratified that youngengineers will continue to benefit from the scholarship that bears hisname.
The Robert D. Wilroy Jr. Memorial Scholarship will provide assistanceto South Carolina residents in Clemson’s chemical and biomolecularengineering department.
Chemical and biomolecular engineering combines study in fourimportant areas — chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics — whilefocusing on the engineering and processing of materials. Graduates ofthe department pursue a range of careers, from advanced materials andbiofuels to environmental industries and medicine.
More than 150 undergraduate students at Clemson major in chemicalengineering; about a quarter pursue graduate or professional degrees.
Bob made a significant contribution to the lives of others in hisfield,” said Wilroy’s sister, Jane Wilroy Trinkley of Columbia. We hopeothers will help us keep that momentum going for a long, long time toassist as many future engineers as possible.
A 1975 Wade Hampton High School graduate, Wilroy earned hisbachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Clemson and was alicensed professional engineer in South Carolina. He also was an avidsailor and member of the Western Carolina Sailing Club.
This gift is part of Clemson’s The Will to Lead capital campaign to raise $600 million to support students and facultywith scholarships, professorships, facilities, technology and enhancedopportunities for learning and research.
Contributions to the fund can be made to the Clemson UniversityFoundation for the Robert Wilroy Endowment in the care of Brandy Page,Office for Development, 110 Daniel Drive, Clemson, S.C. 29631.
