PULLMAN, Wash. — Hollister-Stier Laboratories LLC has created a scholarship for science students at Washington State University in memory of Shirley Papendick Williamson, a WSU alumna and Hollister-Stier employee, who passed away suddenly April 8.
An employee of Hollister-Stier since 1976, she graduated from Pullman High School in 1969 and from WSU in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology and public health. Her parents, Ruby and Robert Papendick, reside in Pullman and are supporters of WSU, where Robert is a retired faculty member from the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.
Williamson began her career at Hollister-Stier, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company located in Spokane, as a research biochemist. She developed improved immunotherapies for patients suffering from life-threatening venom allergies. While working in product development, Williamson authored and co-authored several articles related to immunotherapy in a number of scientific publications. Eventually she was promoted to manager of analytical quality assurance, which insures product quality.
Williamson was recently re-elected president of the Allergen Products Manufacturing Association, which provides industry leadership and liaison with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At the time of her death, she was responsible for all aspects of quality assurance and product development as director of the quality unit at the company’s Spokane facility. The company had recognized her for significant contributions with a President’s Leadership Award in 2003.
The scholarship was announced by Hollister-Stier president and CEO Anthony Bonanzino at the company’s quarterly meeting on Thursday (June 17). “Shirley Williamson was an extraordinary individual and friend,” Bonanzino said. “This scholarship will help memorialize her life and, in the years ahead, provide support to many deserving young people.”
Williamson’s husband, Gus, and eldest son, Carl, attended the company meeting to learn of the establishment of the scholarship and receive a certificate of appreciation from WSU. Joel, Williamson’s youngest son, a current WSU student, was unable to attend.
Michael Griswold, dean of sciences at WSU, said, “We are very grateful to Hollister-Stier for creating the Shirley Williamson Endowed Memorial Science Scholarship. A scholarship seems a very fitting memorial for Shirley, who became a highly respected and devoted member of that company’s staff and used her Washington State University education to the benefit of society. We hope it will be a comfort and a matter of pride for her family to know that other Washington State University students will be encouraged to gain an education in her memory.”
