OSA scholarship honors Paul Bonenfant
The OSA Foundation has announced it is working with the colleagues and family of the late Paul Bonenfant to create a scholarship program in his honor. When funded, the Paul Anthony Bonenfant Memorial Scholarship will offer at least one need-based scholarship per year to an undergraduate student interested in studying engineering or physical science abroad for a semester.
The foundation is currently seeking donors for the scholarship fund, with a goal of $190,000. The effort has produced approximately $56,000 so far.
Bonenfant, who passed away earlier this year, was a well-respected figure in the optical communications community. His career included stints at Bell Communications Research and Lucent’s Optical Networking Group. He subsequently held executive and technical positions at startups Mahi Networks and Photuris before settling in as a senior research analyst for Morgan Keegan & Co.
He was also active within the Optical Society of America (OSA), helping with the OFC technical program committee. He was a key organizer of the event’s Market Watch and Service Provider Summit as well.
There are several ways to contribute to the fund:
- Donations can be made securely online
- A downloadable donation form also is available from the OSA site
- Donations also may be made in securities
- Corporate matching gifts also may be arranged.
The OSA Foundation hopes to award the first scholarship in 2012. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Rebecca L. Reeds, OSA Foundation director, at [email protected] or +1 202.416.1985.
