Students are ephemeral in the department, however, the bonds they form with faculty can endure for decades. Elkanah “Ken” Babcock arrived at Syracuse University in 1964 to earn his MS degree in structural geology, shortly after completing his degree in geology at nearby Union College. He was one Professor John Prucha’s first graduate students. Babcock completed his thesis in 1966 and moved on to UC Riverside for a Ph.D., but he always stayed in touch with Prucha. Ken described his MS thesis as “unremarkable,” yet he credited his much of his professional success, like so many students of his era, to the lifetime of mentoring and support that he received from John. Ken started down the academic track at the University of Alberta before leading the natural resources division of the Alberta Research Council and eventually heading the Geological Survey of Canada, one of the world’s premier geological research organizations from 1988 to 1995.

Ken reached out to EES in the fall of 2021 to express his interest in making a gift, he was adamant that it be focused on supporting research related to the environment. Babcock and his wife donated $200,000 to establish the endowed Elkanah and Gail Reichenbach Babcock Fund to support graduate student research related to modern environmental and sustainability problems for the betterment of the environment and society. This wonderful gift will help support work of one to two graduate students per year in the department’s growing research emphasis on the environment. We hope these students hope will develop life-long connections with their mentors, like that of Ken and John Prucha. Sadly, Ken passed away in March of 2022; however, he and Gail’s gift will benefit future EES students for perpetuity.