About Us
About the Foundation, our Mission, and our Scholarship Opportunties
About the Foundation
The Foundation was established in 2023 to honor the accomplishments of Edwin and June Gibson. Edwin was a creative research scientist in material science at the Ames Lab/Iowa State University (ISU) for over forty years and earned his MS degree in Metallurgy at ISU. June was a distinguished educator who taught elementary school in Ames for over forty years and earned her MA degree in Education at ISU.
They believed that education and continual learning are key enablers of success and satisfaction in life. They were both the first in their families to attend college and made college education a high priority for their children and grandchildren. The scholarships were established by their son Scott, a 1976 alumnus of Ames High, who later earned degrees at ISU and the University of Michigan. The Foundation grants scholarships to able, worthy, and ambitious young women and men to assist them in securing a college education.
About our scholarships
There are two scholarships awarded each year, The Edwin Gibson STEM Scholarship, for women applicants who are pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree, and The June Gibson Education Scholarship, for men who are pursuing an education degree. Each scholarship pays $4,000 per year, renewable for each of four years of undergraduate study, for a total of $16,000.
The awards are open to all graduating seniors from Ames High School who are attending ISU. Students must also be residents of the city of Ames and United States citizens. Eligibility is available without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex or national origin.
Who were Edwin and June Gibson?
Edwin and June believed that education and continual learning are key enablers of success and satisfaction in life. They were both part of the first generation in their families to attend college and made college education a high priority for their children and grandchildren. They raised two sons in Ames, Scott and Mark Gibson, both graduates of Ames High School (1976 & 78) and Iowa State University (1980 & 82).
June Gibson (1929-1994)
- Passionate educator in the Ames elementary school system for over forty years, taught mainly at Meeker Elementary School.
- Received an Education degree from Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska, and an MA in Education from Iowa State University (ISU).
- Born and raised in West Point, Nebraska, and moved to Ames, Iowa in 1955 after marrying Edwin Gibson.
- June met Ed through her brothers, who were working on their graduate degrees at ISU; one brother was in the Metallurgy department with Ed.
Edwin Gibson (1930-2022)
- Creative research scientist at the Ames Lab/ISU for over forty years; was granted fourteen patents for the development of novel materials and processes.
- Received BA in Biology from Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and MS in Metallurgy from ISU.
- US Army veteran who served at a medical field laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany from 1951-1953.
- Born in Cairo, Illinois, and raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; moved to Ames, Iowa in 1953 to attend graduate school at ISU.
Foundation Founders
Scott M. Gibson
Scott was born and raised in Ames, Iowa, and graduated from Ames High School (1976) and Iowa State University (Industrial Engineering 1980). He also obtained his MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan (1986). Since 1986, Scott has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. His career has primarily been spent as chief financial officer for technology firms across several industries. He and Lauri met in San Francisco and were married in 1988; they have lived in San Carlos since 1989.
They have two grown children, Trevor and Mackenzie, who also live in California. Scott has always enjoyed the outdoors and is an avid cyclist, hiker/mountain climber, and golfer. He has also stayed connected to Iowa State by serving as a mentor for the Start-Up Factory venture incubator organization. He is currently semi-retired but continues to consult part-time as interim chief financial officer in Silicon Valley. Both Scott and Lauri enjoy traveling the world and look forward to more adventures in retirement.
Lauri K. Gibson
Lauri was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy and Portland State University (Business & German). She completed her undergraduate studies at night school while working full-time during the day to finance her degree. Since 1980, Lauri has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her career spanned over thirty-five years and was mainly spent with IBM in executive sales and marketing roles. After IBM, she continued as a consultant in sales/marketing for several technology software firms.
Lauri also enjoys being outdoors and is an avid runner/walker and golfer; she is also a voracious reader. She volunteered considerable time for many school projects and directed several major fund-raising campaigns when the kids were younger. She has continued to volunteer for several non-profits whose missions she feels passionate about.