Scholarship keeps alumnus’ memory alive, takes worry off students’ minds
Lloyd Reaves remembers how important money is to the life of college students. Like it has for many of today’s students, it influenced his choice in schools and even how he spent his time outside of class. The same was true for his brother, Sam, so when he was looking for a way to honor his memory, Lloyd knew what he wanted to do.
“My brother and I both worked our way through college at MSU,” Lloyd, a 1994 aerospace engineering graduate, said. “I thought establishing a scholarship would be a good way to honor Sam and give some help to deserving students to maybe ease some of their burdens.”
A native of Hernando, Sam earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1986. He then worked with Rockwell International, an aerospace manufacturer in Huntsville, Ala. He later worked at Missile and Space Intelligence Center, where he served as a section chief until he passed away in 2010 after a battle with cancer.
Through the Sam Reaves Memorial Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering, his parents Sam and Jewelean Reaves, sister Diane Reaves, and his son Brian Reaves, hope to keep his memory alive and give today’s students every opportunity to succeed in aerospace engineering.
“Sam was a generous guy and he loved MSU, so I know doing this in his honor would have made him proud,” Lloyd explained.
This year’s scholarship recipients are aerospace engineering students Austin Hughes, a sophomore, and Stephen Westberg, a junior. Both remarked that scholarships, such as the Reaves Memorial, are very important for easing the financial strain of college.
“I’ve worked hard to build a resume that would merit scholarships to take some of the burden off of my parents,” Hughes, of Germantown, Tenn., said. “I have college-bound younger siblings and I want to make sure that after my tuition is paid, they still have resources for their education.”
Westberg, of Arkadelphia, Ark., added, “Scholarships like this really help when it comes to covering the costs of tuition, books, room and board—everything that comes with college. Knowing that they are available really helps keep me dedicated to my academic performance.”
A chief engineer with American Eurocopter in Texas, Lloyd came to campus to attend the aerospace engineering department’s end of the year celebration and present the scholarship to this year’s recipients. He said he hopes to continue to present at least two scholarships annually.
Story written by: Susan Lassetter
Summer 2012