This fall, friends and family are hosting a benefit to raise money for the Terry M. Speth Service Professional Memorial Scholarship. The fund, in honor of RSTI founder Terrence M. Speth, who died in 2008, will provide $1,000 scholarships to students taking courses in electronics, clinical engineering or biomedical engineering and who look to make a career in diagnostic imaging repair.

"The fund is quite unique in that it rewards scholarships to average students who may not have the highest grade averages, but show a desire to learn electronics and apply it to diagnostic imaging," James A. Monro Jr, president of RSTI, said in an e-mail invitation.

The fund will try to honor Terry Speth's vision of creating more educational opportunities for biomedical technicians. In 1985, Speth founded Radiological Service Training Institute (RSTI) to help train hospital biomeds. Later, he campaigned to develop formal education programs for those who repair diagnostic imaging equipment.

"He always wanted to develop a bachelor's degree in diagnostic imaging," Tracie Speth, Terry's daughter, said.

And he partly got his wish, when ECPI University, a school headquartered in Virginia, set up a two-year associate's degree in medical imaging and a four-year bachelor's in electronics with a medical imaging concentration.

With the new scholarship in his name, his family hopes to carry on his legacy.

Administered by the Cleveland Foundation, the fund will help pay for tuition, books and supplies for one student for one academic year. Students need to have at least a 2.5 GPA to be eligible to apply, and should be doing biomedical or electronic engineering coursework, ideally with the hopes of pursuing a career in diagnostic imaging.

The fund was launched in 2009, but 2011-2012 will be the first academic year money will be disbursed. Its backers hope to make the scholarship permanent. But they need help.

That's why this October, they're hosting a fundraiser at Crystal Brook Farms, a venue owned by family friends. Festivities at the event include performances by the band Sharp Circle, a cornhole tournament, silent auction, raffle, and some rounds of Texas Hold 'Em.

"My dad always liked to have a good time," Tracie Speth said. "So you know it'll be a good time."

Where to go: Oct. 22 at Crystal Brook Farms in Bainbridge, Ohio. Tickets: $50. Ticket price includes food, beer and wine, and one raffle ticket. All proceeds go to the scholarship fund. For more information or to buy tickets, call 440-452-4615.

How to donate: If you can't make the event and would still like to donate, visit the Cleveland Foundation here. (Click on "Fund," and scroll down till you find the Terry M. Speth Service Professional Memorial Scholarship.)

Back to HCB News

More Voices