August 31, 1999
LAWRENCE -- A University of Kansas professor emeritus of physics and his wife have contributed $38,250 to establish a physics scholarship fund at KU, Sally Frost Mason, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, announced today.
The gift to the Kansas University Endowment Association is from Francis "Frank" W. Prosser Jr. and Nancy B. Prosser of Lawrence. The Francis W. Prosser Physics Scholarship Fund will annually benefit the student majoring in physics or engineering physics with the best grade-point average at the end of their freshman year.
"Frank and Nancy's generosity is truly appreciated," Frost Mason said. "Frank was a dedicated teacher and adviser of our physics undergraduates, so it comes as no surprise that he would want to reward these extraordinarily talented students. Indeed, students of physics and engineering physics rank as some of the very best that come to KU, and a scholarship is a very fitting reward for those choosing this challenging academic path. I am extremely grateful to the Prossers for this most gracious gift."
Frank Prosser was born in Wichita in 1927, and received his bachelor's degree in engineering physics in 1950, his master's in physics in 1954, and his doctorate in physics in 1955, all from KU. He joined the KU physics department as an assistant professor in 1957, was promoted to associate professor in 1962 and full professor in 1967. He retired in 1998. The Prossers have three children: David F. Prosser, Rebecca A. Prosser and Martha L. Prosser McCarter. Frank and Nancy Prosser are members of the Jayhawk Society, the Deans Club, the Learned Club, and the Chancellors Club, KU Endowment's major-donor organization.
The gift will be administered by the KU Endowment Association, an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-management foundation for the University of Kansas. Founded in 1891, the KU Endowment Association is the oldest foundation of its type at a public university in the United States and one of the largest.
Story by Caryn Goldberg