WSU Entomology Receives Biggest Gift Ever

Earlier this month, Washington State University's Entomology Department received a $1.4 million gift.  The funds from the James and Marilyn Oliver Hyde Estate are the largest one-time contribution designated to insect education and research at WSU.

Steve Sheppard is the head of the Entomology Department.  He said when many people think about entomologists, their thought go to pesticides to keep crops safe and productive.  However, he said these funds will allow WSU to continue to think outside of the box.

"We also do a lot of this through innovative IPM and other innovative strategies to manage insect populations without using pesticides per se.  One third of our diet is dependent upon insect pollinated crops to begin with.  We have a large effort in pollination biology."

Sheppard says these funds will help bring in the top students.

"The fact that we'll have these Hyde fellowships, allows us to compete and bring in the top students from around the country, to WSU.  Using these funds, we're actually able to offer graduate students a bit of a, let's call it a higher salary compared to some other competing institutions."

Sheppard says the Hydes, longtime Kennewick residents, loves to learn, loved nature and loved the study of insects.

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