20th anniversary Cymer scholarship commemorates Pascal Didier

January 12, 2006, San Diego, CA--Cymer celebrated its 20th anniversary by pledging $175,000 to the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). A portion of the pledge commemorates former Cymer president and COO Pascal Didier, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and passed away on the morning of January 5, 2006, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego, CA, at the age of 47.

"All of us are profoundly saddened by the loss of Pascal Didier," said Cymer chairman and CEO, Bob Akins "Personally, he was a dear friend and one of the finest people I have ever known. Professionally, his leadership and passion to make Cymer a success were remarkable. His generosity, wit, even-handedness and kindness made him a friend to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed."

The $175,000 gift to the Jacobs School of Engineering Scholars Program was announced on January 7, 2006, to provide financial aid for fall 2006 engineering applicants. The "Jacobs School Pascal Didier Undergraduate Scholar" will be selected based on academic merit, leadership and community service involvement to receive $100,000 over four years for full tuition and living expenses.

Similarly, the "Jacobs School S.C. Lin Graduate Scholar" will be selected based on excellence in academics and leadership as well as a strong research interest to receive a $75,000 fellowship dedicated to professor S.C. Lin. Cymer's gift contributes to the $1 billion fundraising goal of The Campaign for UCSD: Imagine What's Next.