JOHNSON CITY (June 23, 2020) – A new endowed scholarship in memory of East Tennessee
State University alumnus Ethan S. Bain will assist students from the Bahamas and Caribbean
who are interested in studying environmental health at ETSU’s College of Public Health.
The Ethan S. Bain Environmental Health Foundation, based in Nassau, Bahamas, has established the scholarship for undergraduate students who are dedicated to carrying on Bain’s commitment to the fields of environmental health and public health.
“I am extremely proud of this endowment scholarship, both because it memorializes the life work of one of our esteemed alumni, and also because, by supporting young students who are following in his footsteps, it will help protect the environment for our Caribbean neighbors,” said Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of the ETSU College of Public Health.
Born in Nassau, Bahamas, in 1946, Ethan Samuel Bain began his professional career in the area of preventative health care services after completing studies at West Indies School of Public Health in Kingston, Jamaica. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health from ETSU in 1980. Later, he completed a graduate degree from Florida International University.
He served as deputy director of Environmental Health and manager of Environmental Services at Bahamas Public Hospitals Authority before venturing into entrepreneurship. A pioneer in the field of waste management, Bain was one of the founding members of Bahamas Waste Management Ltd. and later went on to establish his own company, Solid Waste Management Ltd., before his death in August 2005.
As an environmentalist, Bain was an active member of the Bahamas National Trust and helped to orchestrate cleanup campaigns throughout New Providence, the most populous island in the Bahamas.
“Ethan was a true nationalist and an environmentalist at heart. He cared deeply about
the cleanliness of the environment in the Bahamas and took great pride in his work
in the field of environmental health. Ethan often spoke about seeing Bahamians further
their education and excel in the field,” said Jacqueline Bain, ETSU alumna and the
founder of the Ethan S. Bain Environmental Health Foundation.
“This partnership to provide scholarship opportunities for students from the Caribbean to study environmental health sciences is a significant part of continuing my husband’s legacy. We are encouraging students from the region, and particularly those from his native Bahamas, to take advantage of this opportunity to expand their knowledge and have a positive impact on their communities for years to come.”
A pioneer in environmental health education, ETSU’s College of Public Health celebrated the 50th year of the accreditation of its undergraduate curriculum in environmental health in 2019. ETSU’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health was the first undergraduate program of its kind to receive accreditation by the National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).
Bain is one of the program’s distinguished alumni who have made a significant impact in the field.
“Ethan’s work and legacy continue to inspire environmental health programs throughout the world,” said Dr. Kurt Maier, professor and chair of ETSU’s Department of Environmental Health. “This endowed scholarship will continue that work. We look forward to collaborating with the Bain Foundation to explore opportunities that can contribute to improving the health of people throughout the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the world.”
The first Ethan S. Bain Environmental Health Foundation Scholarship will be available in March 2021. Criteria and information about how to apply are available here. More information about the Ethan S. Bain Environmental Health Foundation is available here.