'Last Lecture' professor, Randy Pausch, memorialized

[GrumpyFan]

This is a very touching tribute, way to go Disney.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH -- The Walt Disney Co. has donated money for two three-year fellowships at a Pittsburgh university in honor of the late professor Randy Pausch.

The Disney Memorial Pausch Fellowships will go to a fine arts student and one in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. That's where Pausch taught.

He became famous for his inspirational book "The Last Lecture" before dying in July of pancreatic cancer.

The book grew out of a lecture about dealing with his illness and became famous through an Internet video.

Disney has also honored Pausch by placing a medallion at its Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida.

The medallion is inscribed with an excerpt from his book.

The value of the fellowships wasn't disclosed.

I just wonder where they put it.

[Mufasa]

The medallion will be placed near the Mad Tea Party (aka teacups) and feature the following passage inscribed on it:

"Be good at something; it makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table, because that will make you more welcome."

One reason for selecting the tea cups is that Dr. Pausch always had a picture on his desk of his niece/nephew enjoying the attraction that was a favorite of his.

[DisneyAggies]

Got tears just reading this...so nice that he'll be remembered at WDW. I'll have to look for it next time we go.

Thanks for the info, Mufasa!

[DAKustodial]

It's very cool that Disney is doing this in memory of such an inspiring, courageous person. Walt Disney World meant so much to Randy Pausch and it is awesome that a little piece of him will live on in the Magic Kingdom.

[gwfx1031]

We were there last week and the had the plaque under a cover and a photogrpaher was setting up his gear and there were plenty of "suits" hanging around. They were probably getting ready for the press release. It is in the flower beds that line the tea cups on the castle side of the attraction.

[Figment!]

Disney Honors Randy Pausch with Memorial Fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University

Walt Disney World Resort Public Relations Release
February 4, 2009


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., -- The Walt Disney Company has announced the creation of the Disney Memorial Pausch Fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University in recognition of the passion and energy Dr. Randy Pausch brought to his work at both Carnegie Mellon and Walt Disney Imagineering. Pausch is best known for his life-affirming "Last Lecture," which he delivered to his students and colleagues a few weeks after learning he had just months to live. Intended as a roadmap for his three young children, the lecture included his insights on finding the good in other people, working hard to overcome obstacles and living generously.

“Randy Pausch lived his life inspiring his students, colleagues and co-workers. Now, the vitality and energy he brought to his classroom lives on and serves as an inspiration to millions of people he never had the chance to meet,” said Disney President and CEO Bob Iger. “We are proud to honor Randy’s passion by supporting the innovators and dreamers of tomorrow with these fellowships.”

Pausch fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a Walt Disney Imagineer in 1995 when he joined the Imagineering Virtual Reality Studio during a sabbatical from his university teaching position. Imagineering, with its collaborative teams of artists, engineers, sculptors and software developers, proved the perfect environment for him. After his sabbatical was complete, Pausch continued as a consultant to Disney, and began nurturing a relationship between Carnegie Mellon and Disney through Imagineering’s internship program. Pausch earned his PhD in computer science at Carnegie Mellon in 1988 and was a professor in Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science Department, Human-Computer Interaction Institute and School of Design from 1997 until his death in July 2008.

The Disney Memorial Pausch Fellowship will support two graduate students, one in the School of Computer Science (SCS) and one in the College of Fine Arts (CFA), reflecting Pausch’s enthusiasm for the interplay of arts and technology. His fascination with this type of synergy at Disney led to the development of Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center, a program designed specifically to foster collaboration between technologists and fine artists on projects intended to entertain, inform, inspire, or otherwise affect audiences. The Entertainment Technology Center’s Masters of Entertainment Technology degree is jointly conferred by Carnegie Mellon’s College of Fine Arts and School of Computer Science.

“Arts and technology are two pillars of strength at Carnegie Mellon,” said Jared L. Cohon, president of the university. “Randy Pausch was tireless in his efforts to bridge the gap between them by creating innovative classes and graduate programs, as well as through his own research. Disney’s generosity in sponsoring graduate fellowships in computer science and fine arts further establishes Randy’s educational legacy by benefitting talented students who share his passion for interdisciplinary collaboration.”

To mark Pausch’s achievements, a specially-themed medallion will be placed in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and inscribed with words from his lecture: “Be good at something; it makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table, because that will make you more welcome.” The unique artistic element is located near the Mad Tea Party (“tea cups”) ride, which was celebrated in a photo that Pausch displayed on his desk, showing his niece and nephew enthusiastically enjoying the attraction.

The relationship between Disney and Carnegie Mellon that Pausch nurtured continues to evolve. In August 2008, Disney announced a major Research and Development initiative to engage top technology universities to conduct research and development for many of Disney’s divisions. Disney Research, Pittsburgh, and its sister lab, Disney Research, Zurich, connect Disney with Carnegie Mellon and other renowned academic partners who have world-class science and technology talent. The labs will engage in research and development on computer animation, computational cinematography, autonomous interactive characters, robotics and user interfaces, among other initiatives.

[JJWDW]

My family was in Disney over the weekend. Friday night we were exiting the Living Seas pavillion, and I was sure I saw Randy's wife walking by with a Disney CM. No one else in my family noticed, but I recognized her from the tv specials. What a great tribute to an amazing man!