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ENGINEERING COLLEGE RECEIVES $500,000 FROM 3M
 

From left: Assistant Dean Loren Zachary, Associate Dean Diane Rover, and James Mahan, 3M Senior Vice President Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics.

The College of Engineering at Iowa State University has received a $500,000 gift from Minnesota-based 3M Corporation to help fund the college’s new Engineering Leadership Institute. The gift is the largest corporate donation for a student-focused initiative in the history of the college.

The Engineering Leadership Institute is a multi-faceted program that will integrate academics with experiential learning and a community orientation to develop the leadership potential of students in the college. It will challenge and stimulate students intellectually and complement the University Honors Program. Participating students will be able to individualize their programs of study to include opportunities such as seminar courses on leadership development, management of a senior design course, or special study abroad experiences. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for life-long leadership roles in industry as well as public service.

The 3M gift will be used to fund scholarships, program development, and student leadership activities. The institute’s first 15 3M Scholars will be selected prior to the spring 2006 term. The number of scholarships will increase annually over the next four academic years, until the goal of 60 3M Scholars is reached.

“We are grateful to 3M for the tremendous opportunities their gift offers,” said College of Engineering Associate Dean Diane Rover, who accepted the check for the college. “Partnering with 3M on this project puts Iowa State in a truly unique position to better prepare our students for leadership roles in their careers.”

Rover added that the Engineering Leadership Institute is one component of a larger engineering policy and leadership initiative envisioned by the college that will create an environment that encourages technically minded students, faculty, and staff to develop and improve their leadership skills and become engaged in the development of public policies related to technology.

The gift was presented at 3M corporate headquarters in St. Paul during an event attended by Iowa State administrators and a number of ISU alumni employed at 3M. The company’s current workforce includes approximately 450 graduates of the Iowa State University College of Engineering.