The Smith-Phares Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Smith-Phares Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to the memory of two remarkable human beings: Reardon Smith and George Phares. It honors their lives and celebrates their great entrepreneurial spirit. Both Reardon and George were longtime members of the Houston Chapter of IMC, served as President of the chapter, and served multiple years on the chapter’s Board of Directors. They attended and presented at Confab and met many members of IMC from around the country. The Houston Chapter is still reeling from their sudden deaths within weeks of each other in the fall of 2009. Both Reardon and George were serving on the board at the time.

In their memory, the Houston chapter, together with Joan Smith and Debbie Phares, established the Smith-Phares Memorial Scholarship fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding college-level applicants – undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate students - whose values reflect those of Reardon and George; a strong work ethic, a passion for life and learning; and a commitment to better themselves and their community.

The first recipient of the Smith-Phares Memorial Scholarship Fund will be awarded to a student from the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business.

Currently ranked the #1 undergraduate entrepreneurship program in the U.S. by Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review, the Cyvia and Melvin Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship has been ranked in the top two undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the U.S. since 2007. We are currently working with The Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship to identify the first recipient and hope to have an announcement soon.

For more information, or to make a contribution, please visit:http://smith-phares.org/index.htm