The Kevin & Indira Champions of Undergrads Fund was established by the Biochemistry and Biophysics department in honor of Drs. Kevin Ahern and Indira Rajagopal on the occasion of their retirement in December 2018. Ever since they began their teaching careers in the Oregon State Biochemistry and Biophysics department in the mid-1990s, Kevin and Indira have been highly engaged and effective champions of undergraduates as individuals who matter, and also of undergraduate education more generally. They are amazing models for what it means to be champions of undergrads, and this fund creates a legacy in their honor that will provide tangible support for our students into the future.
The Kevin & Indira Champions of Undergrads Fund provides support for undergraduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, with priority given to support students who have demonstrated financial need. Recommendations for use of the fund are to be made by the department head, in conjunction with the undergraduate committee. Support for students in the department can include, but is not limited to, emergency support, undergraduate research activities, professional development opportunities (including travel related to such activities), and scholarships, which purpose is and shall be consistent with the Foundation’s policies and with its status as a tax-exempt organization. Recipients are to be selected in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures for awarding scholarships and fellowships.
The Kevin and Indira Champions of Undergrads fund has two parts to it. It has an “endowed” fund portion and a “current use” portion. For the “endowed” portion, the principal is not directly spent but is invested to support students for generations to come; the generated earnings (4% per year currently) are transferred to the “current use” portion and so they can be used for student support. For supporting the fund, you may make donations to either portion – in one case growing the principal of the endowed portion and in the other case providing funds to be fully used in the short term to support students. Both strategies are effective ways to support students in our programs. Use one of the two “donate now” buttons above to go to the OSU Foundation website and make a donation to either the “Kevin and Indira Champions of Undergrads Endowment” or “Kevin and Indira Champions of Undergrads Current Use fund.