"My grandparents considered the firehouse a special place in their lives," Kevin Gregson, AS '81, said. After his grandmother died two years ago, he thought about a way to honor his grandparents and their community service. For nearly six decades, Earl Gregson had been an active member of the Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Co. that adjoins the University campus in Newark, while his wife, Elizabeth, served as president of the firehouse's ladies auxiliary.

Gregson recalled that, as an undergraduate and member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, one of the challenges he observed was finding new ways to connect the community to the University. He thought starting a scholarship would be a good way to honor his grandparents, create linkages between the community and the University while supporting a group that helps the entire community.

Now a partner at Ernst & Young based in New York City, Kevin Gregson established the Gregson Memorial Scholarship to annually award scholarships to members of the Aetna fire company or its Ladies Auxiliary, their children or grandchildren. To date, three UD students with connections to the firehouse--Heather E. Catalino, AS 2005; Madelaine C. Cornell-D'Echert, AS 2004; and Robert U. Pizzala, HNS 2001--have benefited from Gregson's memorial to his grandparents.