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They Bonded in Chemistry Lab and Now Catalyze a Legacy

Tom and Shelley Bagg and family

A chemistry lab lit the spark between Jon and Shelley Bagg. Shelley (née Garrett) was one of just two women in her 50-member chemical engineering class. Jon was completing an MS in chemistry and serving as lab teaching assistant. They became closer lab buddies the next year when Jon stayed on to complete credits for a BS in chemical engineering.

After they graduated in 1971 and moved to California's Bay Area, Shelley became one of the first female engineers at Chevron's Richmond refinery and Jon signed on with General Electric's Nuclear Power Division and later worked for several units of Chevron.

Fast forward 36 years through challenging engineering work, raising daughters, a career shift (Shelley), and a "failed" retirement (Jon). Shelley established a successful business offering financial planning and investment services. Jon consults on engineering design projects and enjoys part-time work at an independent bookstore.

Now they have forged a new bond with the UW by establishing the Shelley and Jonathan Bagg Endowed Scholarship in Chemical Engineering. The Students First Matching Initiative boosts their $100,000 gift with an additional $50,000.

"A scholarship enabled me to earn a degree that catapulted me to a better life," Shelley said. "We credit much of our success to our UW education, and the Students First initiative gives us the opportunity to pass this legacy on by helping deserving students obtain chemical engineering degrees."

"Expanding scholarship and fellowship offerings is critical to our educational mission,” said Eric Stuve, past chair of Chemical Engineering. "The Baggs' gift gives us one more incentive for drawing top students to our program. Thank you Jon and Shelley!"

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