The first scholarship to benefit undergraduates enrolled in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Biomedical Physiology program celebrates the memory of Jonah Elliot Clark, the son of Robert Clark, who serves as Senior Director for Finance and Administration of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Last April, Jonah unexpectedly passed away at the age of 14. He enjoyed spending time with family, running on campus, attending UGA athletic events, video games, and using his endless creativity to enrich the lives of others. More than anything else, Jonah possessed a gentle and kind soul that had the incredible ability to make everyone around him smile widely and laugh loudly.
Jonah will be deeply missed by all that knew him, but his legacy of love, kindness, and positivity (“no bad vibes” was his catchphrase) will continue on through the Jonah Elliot Clark Memorial Scholarship. “In thinking about the best way to remember him, the endowed scholarship is something that will be here in perpetuity, it will be here even after we’re gone,” Rob Clark, Jonah’s father, said, “and then in enough time more people will know about Jonah in death than they did in life.”
His scholarship will be the first scholarship to benefit undergraduates enrolled in the CVM’s Biomedical Physiology program, an undergraduate program that was introduced in August 2022. The program offers both major and minor courses of study and already has over 170 students enrolled for their Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Physiology.
Dr. Gaylen Edwards, Interim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Veterinary Medicine, said the undergraduate program has grown beyond his expectations. “Many of these students are going on to professional schools, so keeping their debt down as an undergraduate is really important,” Edwards said. “Having scholarships like the one that honors Jonah’s memory will help more students participate in the undergraduate program, graduate on time, and move on to their graduate studies.”
“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains” – Unknown
To support the Jonah Elliot Clark Memorial Scholarship, please visit https://gail.uga.edu/jonahclark.
