NEWS
Dow Foundation makes $1 million gift for engineering building campaign
The Dow Chemical Company Foundation has made a $1 million gift to Louisiana Tech University in support of its campaign to construct a new Integrated Engineering and Science Education Building which will expand classroom, laboratory and faculty office space for the College of Engineering and Science.
Louisiana Tech VP for Research & Development Dr. Stan Napper (left), Dow’s Stacy Chiasson, Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Foundation President Sandy Johnson, Louisiana Tech President Les Guice
The new facility will provide an additional 60,000 square feet of educational space to serve not only academic needs, but also to aid in student and faculty recruitment, and to help further advance the university’s reputation as a national leader in engineering and science education.
Ernest Green, site leader for Dow in Sterlington, La., says the campaign for the new Integrated Engineering and Science Education Building came at just the right time.
“Last fall, Dow announced $1.06 billion in growth at our Louisiana facilities,” said Green. “Dow’s growth announcement, coupled with many others, has created a need for 1,000 more engineers in Louisiana. It is with great excitement that we add our support to this project at Louisiana Tech.”
Green, a Louisiana Tech graduate in electrical engineering technology, says the university has already provided Dow with over 100 employees, over the years.
“Louisiana Tech is a strategic talent pool for Dow and we recognize the outstanding engineering graduates they produce,” Green said. “Dow has had great success in hiring and retaining those graduates. In order to grow in Louisiana, we must also invest in the people and our communities and this contribution ensures that we will continue our partnership well into the future.”
The Integrated Engineering and Science Building will be located adjacent to Nethken Hall and Louisiana Tech’s research park, Enterprise Campus. It will feature new active learning class labs, shops, and meeting rooms for engineering, math and science classes.
“Our valued relationship with Dow Chemical Company has existed for decades and they have many Tech graduates throughout their organization,” said Louisiana Tech President Les Guice. “Dow is making positive impacts throughout the State. Their generosity in support of our engineering and science building campaign is greatly appreciated. We are grateful for their continued support of Louisiana Tech and we look forward to working together to create new growth opportunities for Louisiana and the region.”
The College of Engineering and Science will continue to work on the campaign, needing a few more gifts to attain its goal. Dr. Stan Napper, former dean of the College of Engineering and Science and current vice president for research and development at Louisiana Tech, says Dow’s gift is crucial to the success of the campaign.
“The timing of the gift, the size of the gift, the number of people within Dow who endorsed the gift and the ultimate purpose for the gift combine to make this one of the most significant single gifts ever received by the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech,” said Napper.
To learn more about the engineering and science campaign, visit http://coes.latech.edu/building. Written by Catherine Fraser – cfraser@latech.edu