Dr. Bhuvana Scholarship Fund Established to Honor Beloved GSSM Educator

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 3, 2024) ─ A fund has been established in honor of the late Dr. Bhuvana Parameswaran by an alum, a faculty member and a staff member of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM). The Dr. Bhuvana Scholarship Fund is dedicated to continuing Dr. Bhuvana’s legacy by providing financial support to GSSM residential students.

This scholarship will enable students with financial need to pursue national or international research or programs in the biomedical sciences—opportunities that often prove transformative in their educational journeys. Once the fund reaches $10,000, it will be permanently endowed, ensuring scholarships are awarded in perpetuity.

By supporting the Dr. Bhuvana Scholarship Fund, donors are investing in the futures of GSSM students, empowering them to follow in Dr. Bhuvana’s footsteps of academic rigor and scientific curiosity. Contributions can be made by selecting the Dr. Bhuvana Scholarship Fund from the dropdown menu at scgssm.org/donate.

Dr. Bhuvana, a member of the Biology Department, joined GSSM in 1998. She also served as faculty lead for the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Asian Culture clubs. During her remarkable 25-year tenure, Dr. Bhuvana’s dedication to her students and her craft left an indelible mark on the GSSM community. Her sudden passing on Oct. 14 at the age of 64 has deeply saddened her colleagues, students and alumni.

“Dr. Bhuvana’s over two decades of service to GSSM has impacted students, colleagues and families in countless ways. So many of our graduates attribute their current studies or employment to Bhuvana’s class and passion for her subject,” said Danny Dorsel, GSSM President and a member of the Class of 1990. “Bhuvana’s passing is a significant loss to the GSSM community, but knowing her, she would want us to continue working hard and getting better, and so we will.”

Students fondly remember Dr. Bhuvana as a passionate and inspiring educator. “Dr. Bhuvana was brilliant. You could ask her anything, and she’d just know the answer. Her eyes would light up, and she’d smile while explaining every detail,” said GSSM senior Phoenix Zhao. “She was so passionate that it was contagious! Many of my friends signed up for her extremely challenging courses just to experience her teaching.”

Faculty and staff are also mourning her loss. “She was a dear colleague and friend, and a source of encouragement to us. Bhuvana was creative in her teaching, and she loved sharing innovative methods and tools with her students. I remember a discussion with Bhuvana about ways that 3D printing could be used in teaching biology. She was a testimony of what it means to be a lifelong learner. We will miss her tremendously,” said Randy LaCross, Senior Vice President of Outreach and Global Initiatives.

For more information, please contact the GSSM Marketing and Communications Department at (843) 383-3944.