Ian Clough Explore the World Foundation perpetuates his philosophy

MADISON – In his travels, Ian Clough stayed with biologists in an Amazon River hut, drove dog sleds in the Artic Circle and surfed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru.

At age 27, Ian had visited 4 continents, 15 countries and numerous states on his adventures. Tragically, Ian was killed closer to home in a boating accident on Lake Okonee in Georgia on July 13, 2019.

Ian had graduated from Bob Jones High School in 2010. He received the President’s Academic Scholarship at the University of Alabama, joined Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, cheered for the Crimson Tide and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He then earned master’s degrees in business administration and operations management.

In 2016, Ian accepted a job in Atlanta as associate consultant with Price Waterhouse Coopers. Within three years, he was promoted to senior associate in project management.

In other travels, Ian had experienced an animal safari and cage diving with sharks in South Africa; Ernest Hemingway’s paths in Cuba; Northern Lights in Sweden and Denmark; and snowboarding in Colorado and Canada.

“While writing his obituary, our family decided to create a memorial scholarship in his name in lieu of flowers,” Ian’s mother Lesa Clough said. They established the Ian Clough Explore the World Foundation.

“Through this memorial fund, our hope is to pass on his adventurous spirit, his love of travel and his appreciation of other cultures, history and languages of the world,” Lesa said. “Our goal is to provide students with financial assistance to make their dreams come true with an opportunity to travel globally, experience their own unique adventures and meet other people around the globe.”

At Bob Jones, Lesa had taught Spanish and French and coordinated summer trips abroad for students and realized the travel was too expensive for many. Scholarships will go to deserving students at Bob Jones and UA for financial assistance in overseas tours or study-abroad programs.

Ian’s foundation will award its first scholarships to two Bob Jones students on Feb. 19 and later to UA students. Current foundation board members are Mark and Lesa Clough, Ian’s parents, and Chandler Clough, Ian’s brother.

Within five months of Ian’s passing, the family and his foundation raised approximately $80,000 from donations of friends, relatives, colleagues and employers. Ian’s college roommate started a GoFundMe account with a goal of $23,000 – reached before Ian’s funeral. Ian’s foundation, now a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has Facebook, Instagram and Guidestar charity website pages, along with a website that Brandy Panagos’ multimedia students at Bob Jones have designed.

For more information, email iancloughexplore23@gmail.com or visit iancloughexploretheworld.org or Facebook/IanExploretheWorld23.