Grant Imahara’s legacy lives on
The ‘ Myth Busters’ host died in July after a brain aneurysm
Grant Imahara’s legacy is continuing to inspire new generations of students after his death this summer.
During a virtual celebration of Imahara’s life held Friday, a nonprofit foundation named after the beloved “Myth Busters” host and electrical engineer was launched “to empower underserved youth to become active in science, technology, engineering, art and math.”
Imahara, known for his work as the robotics whiz of Discovery’s MythBusters, died in July after a brain aneurysm. Friday would have been his 50th birthday.
Created by Imahara’s family and friends, the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation aims to increase kids’ access to science, technology, engineering, art and math education through mentorship, grants and scholarships open to students of all socioeconomic statuses, races and genders.
In addition to lending his engineering expertise to the MythBusters, StarWars, Matrix, Terminator and Jurassic Park franchises, Imahara mentored the robotics teamat Richmond High School in California while working for Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm’s VFX and animation studio.
“There are many students, likemy son Grant, who need the balance of the technical and the creative, and this is what STEAM is all about,” said Imahara’s mother, foundation cofounder Carolyn Imahara, in a statement.
“I’m so proud ofmy son’s career but I’m equally proud of the work he
did mentoring students. Hewould be thrilled thatwe plan to continue this, plus much more, through the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation,” she added.
In partnership with the foundation, the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering has announced a fundraising drive to name a study lounge after Imahara.
According to Wade Bick, who studied electrical engineering alongside Imahara at USC, all donations in support of the Grant Imahara Memorial Study Lounge will benefit the USC Viterbi K- 12 STEM Centre’s programmes for students and teachers at under- resourced K- 12 schools in Southern California.
“Please join me in helping to keep Grant’s memory alive,” Bick wrote on the fundraising website.