Laurence R. Foster Memorial Scholarships

The Laurence R. Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund was
established in 1992 to honor Dr. Larry Foster, a long-time
public health leader in Oregon. After Community Health
Partnership (formerly known as Friends of Public Health)
was founded in 1999, the Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund
merged with CHP to become one of our core programs. We
partner with the Oregon Student Assistance Commission
and Oregon Community Foundation in the administration of
this program.

Foster Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually.
Recipients have outstanding academic records and have
demonstrated a commitment to pursing careers in public
health. Since 2000, Community Health Partnership has
awarded $185,200 in scholarships ranging from $1000 to
$10,000 per recipient.

Dr. Larry Foster served as Deputy and then
State Epidemiologist with
the Oregon Health Division
from 1977 until his death
in 1992. Prior to serving
at the Health Division, Dr.
Foster was the Health
Officer of Josephine
County, OR from 1975-
1977. He received his MS
and MPH from the Harvard
School of Public Health and
was honored with the
“Friend of Epidemiologic
Intelligence Service Award”
from the Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention.

Prior to his death, the “Friends of Larry Foster” decided to
establish a scholarship fund in his name. Dr. Foster was
enthusiastic about the idea “hoping to leave this
world a better place” and helped develop the scholarship
guidelines. Scholarships are intended to assist Oregon
residents in furthering their public health education,
and at Dr. Foster’s request, preference for the
scholarship award will be given to qualified minority
students to promote a representative public health workforce.