His friends called him the mountain man.

Benjamin Kessel ’09 loved the outdoors and hungered to explore the world. An avid climber, hiker, skier and world traveler, he scaled peaks in nearly a dozen states and more than 20 countries and was happiest when sharing his passions with others.

“I think he felt free, unburdened by everything, when he was climbing,” his friend Cherie Hesgrove ’08 reflected. “He really lived life out and about, and he was always going to be out in the world, in nature. You could never stop him.”

Sadly, Kessel died in a climbing accident in 2020 at just 34 years old. To honor his memory, a generous gift to University of the Pacific has created the Benjamin Kessel Memorial Scholarship in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

The $100,000 gift came from the Benjamin Kessel Memorial Fund, led by Hesgrove, Kessel’s mother Irene Kessel, and a committee of family and friends. The scholarship is intended for engineering students who share both his professional interests and his passion for the outdoors.

“We want to support people who are most like Ben, who really want to make the world a better place,” his brother, Dan Kessel, explained.

Ben Kessel, who was from Natick, Massachusetts, was a mechanical engineering major who aspired to a career in environmental protection or conservation.

He and Hesgrove, his friend since middle school, applied to Pacific together. They participated in group outings through Pacific Recreation and helped start a climbing club at the university that thrives to this day.

The budding engineer also displayed great promise in the classroom.

“Ben was one of the smartest human beings I’ve met—really intelligent,” recalled Professor of Mechanical Engineering Jiancheng Liu, who taught Kessel for two years and encouraged his pursuit of a master’s degree from Stanford University. “He was so smart, and also very humble and caring. I was fortunate to have him in our department and in my class.”

Kessel returned to the East Coast to begin his engineering career. He traveled and climbed frequently and taught climbing classes through the MIT Outing Club.

“Some days he was all about climbing, and some days he was all about going places, being with people and being present,” Dan Kessel said. “He created a sense of love and acceptance that he put into the world, which rebounded and came back to us.”

That spirit will live on through the Kessel Memorial Scholarship, which aims to support environmentally conscious Pacific students who display outstanding leadership qualities and/or have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges. Its establishment coincides with the launch of a new undergraduate degree program in sustainability, which will equip students with scientific knowledge and leadership skills to address significant challenges facing the planet.

“We are so grateful to Ben’s family and friends for honoring his legacy and providing such generous support for current and future Pacific students,” said Elizabeth Orwin, dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

“Like Ben, many of our students cherish the outdoors and are determined to leverage their engineering education to positively impact the environment. The Kessel Memorial Scholarship will have a profound impact on the educational and career dreams of future recipients.”

The first two Kessel Scholarships were awarded for the 2025-26 academic year. The recipients will continue the legacy of engineering excellence, environmental stewardship, and desire to make a difference, that characterized the mountain man.

To give to the Benjamin Kessel Memorial Scholarship, click here.

To learn more about supporting scholarships at Pacific, contact Molly Byrne, senior associate vice president for development, and 209.946.2780 or mbyrne1@pacific.edu