Al Bruce: Classmate's son wins Fulbright Scholarship

This article again proves Gregor Mendel was correct about the inviolate rules of genetics:

Here's the up-to-date proof: Dr. Richard Beal is assistant dean of educational outreach and adjunct professor in the New York Eastern State Forestry (ESF) College Department of Environmental and Forest Biology. For those who follow this column with anything more than casual interest, Dr. Beal is the son of A-E's college classmate Richard who is a retired senior research chemist at a fortune 500 company.

Dr. Beal's work and credentials are impressive, as would be expected of winners of ultra-competitive Fulbright Scholarships: Rick teaches Global Environment and is the primary mentor for high school teachers who teach Global Environment through the ESF high school program.

The list of his responsibilities seems to approach endless, at least to the lazy author of this column: Rick is currently co-principal of a three-year $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation that brings college research into Central and Western New York high schools and middle schools through the ESF Science Corps.

Rick worked two years prior to his outreach appointment on projects involving biophysical economics and simulation modeling. A-E knows as much about that pair of subjects as he does about quantum physics and the De Medicis who became Popes.

Dr. Beal's list of achievements seem to grow exponentially: He is a board member for Project Watershed and a member of the Onondaga Lake Partnership Outreach Committee. In addition, he's on the steering committee for the Greater Syracuse Scholastic Science Fair and is the director at large of environmental science for the Science Teachers Association of New York State.

Professor Beal earned his bachelor of science and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry from the University at Buffalo. He was a Peace Corps teacher in Eritrea, East Africa; has more than 10 years of experience coaching soccer, and is currently faculty advisor to the ESF Club Soccer Team.

His letter from the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) noted two important new components of his resume: He will be teaching in Cambodia and was selected from a large pool of applicants for the Fulbright Awards.

From the letter, "The FFSB is the presidentially appointed 12-member board responsible for supervising the Fulbright Program worldwide and approving selection of all Fulbright recipients. (Dr. Beal's) grant is made possible through funds appropriated annually by the U.S. Congress and, in many cases, by contributions from partner countries and the private sector.

In what's probably the most understated part of the letter: "Your selection for a Fulbright award is an achievement for which you can be justly proud.

"As a Fulbright grantee, (Rick) will join the ranks of distinguished participants in the program. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, and university presidents, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists and teachers. They have been awarded 53 Nobel Prizes. Since its beginnings in 1946, more than 360,000 have participated in the Program.

Page 2 of 2 - "Senator Fulbright's goal of developing international understanding depends on a commitment from Fulbright grantees to establish open communication and long-term cooperative relationships. As a Fulbrighter (the Fulbright term, not from the author of this column) and a representative of the United States, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with international partners in educational, political, cultural, economic, and scientific fields.

"We hope you'll become involved in your local (Cambodian) community while on your Fulbright exchange. (That) will demonstrate the qualities of service, excellence and leadership that have been hallmarks of this Program for more than 65 years.

"The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States State Department, which oversees the operations of this Program throughout the world, joins the Board in congratulating you."

For the record, Classmate Richard includes in his achievements the title of national youth soccer coach of the year.

Columnist Al Bruce lives in Canisteo.

Source: Al Bruce: Classmate's son wins Fulbright Scholarship