Grady Wayne and Patricia Clark Scholarship Endowment established at Roane State Community College

Roane State Community College has a new scholarship available for students: The Grady Wayne and Patricia Clark Scholarship Endowment, which has been established for students from Anderson County, with preference given to students who come from Oak Ridge. The scholarship was established by Patricia Clark as a way of continuing her husband Grady’s legacy following his passing in 2020.

According to an article on Roane State Community College’s website, Patricia was quoted as saying of her motivation to establish the scholarship, “At 101, I have lived long enough to see how knowledge changes and shapes society. My husband devoted his life to science, civic service, and the belief that education opens every door. This scholarship is my way of ensuring his legacy continues – so future generations of students can carry forward the spirit of learning that meant so much to him.”

Grady Wayne Clark was born in North Carolina and served in World War II. He earned bachelor degrees in chemistry and physics from Clemson and later earned a PhD from the University of Virginia. After Grady and Patricia married, the couple moved to Oak Ridge. Grady worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where his work focused on crystal growth of synthetic star sapphires and rubies. He held 39 patents and earned both the IR 100 Award and the Alvin Weinberg Award for Visionary Research.

Patricia (Pumphrey) Clark was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Madison College, which is now James Madison University. She earned her degree in English and History and began her career as a teacher. She later transitioned into a career in historical editing and research. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. She spent more than 30 years editing The Papers of Andrew Johnson until she retired. 

The Clarks donated $50,000 to be used for student scholarships, which students are encouraged to apply for in the spring. The Grady Wayne and Patricia Clark Scholarship Endowment will be awarded each fall. 

Scott Niermann, who serves as the Roane State Foundation’s Executive Director, said, “The Roane State Foundation is honored to ensure the legacy of the Clarks amongst Roane State Community College and the larger Oak Ridge community will live on in this special endowment. To have met them and known them personally for so many years is a privilege. Roane State has many philanthropic heritages across our service area, and Wayne and Pat Clark are certainly chief among them.”

For more information about Roane State Community College, visit the school’s website.