May 08, 2001

WKU Announces Corporate Gift In Support Of Engineering

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University today announced a commitment from Kerr Greulich Engineers in support of the new bachelor's degree programs in engineering.

According to Tom Hiles, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, this gift will provide $98,000 to create the Kerr Greulich Fund for Excellence, an endowed fund that will provide support for the maintenance of equipment and for other critical needs within the program. The gift will be matched by $27,000 from the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Regional University Excellence Trust Fund.

"In February the Council on Postsecondary Education approved an agreement under which joint engineering programs between WKU and the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville will be offered," Hiles said. "This new program would not have been possible without the leadership financial support of a number of individuals and corporations throughout Kentucky. We are so grateful for the generous support we have received from Kerr Greulich Engineers Inc."

Don Greulich, president of Kerr Greulich Engineers in Louisville, and his wife, Jennifer, are both Western alumni. "I received a good education at Western," Greulich said. "I think it is important that alumni support the institutions that supported them."

"There is a critical void in Kentucky for engineering schools," he continued. "This void, especially in Western Kentucky, has made a difference in recruiting industries to the area. It is important to have training for engineers available at different geographic areas in the state."

According to John Russell, head of the WKU Department of Engineering, gifts such as these are very important to Western as it builds a successful engineering program.

"The gift from Kerr Greulich Engineers will support faculty and student activities that will ensure our students have a rich and rewarding experience," he said. "Gifts like this allow us to build a reputation of quality that will benefit our department, our college, and the entire University."

In the last year, Western has received more than $5 million in private and matching funding to support the transition of its engineering program.

That total includes three gifts, pledges and matches from the state's Regional University Excellence Trust Fund to create endowed professorships for the Engineering Department:

· $1 million (with $1 million state match) from Rita and Jim Scott of Bowling Green, for Western's first fully endowed chair, the James D. Scott Endowed Chair in Engineering.
· $500,000 (with $500,000 state match) from Jana and Bud Layne of Glasgow, for the James L. "Bud" Layne Professorship in Mechanical Engineering.
· $500,000 (with $500,000 state match) anonymous gift for a professorship in construction engineering and management.

"Western has been in engineering education for 30 years," said WKU President Gary Ransdell. "In the fall of 2001, we will make the transition from a technology program to full bachelor's certification in the primary disciplines of mechanical, electrical and civil engineering. We are grateful for the collaborative spirit at UK and U of L which makes these joint degrees possible."

"We have been impressed with the way engineering companies and private individuals contributed significant private support to make the transition possible," Dr. Ransdell continued. "Our appreciation is extended to Don and Jennifer and their colleagues at Kerr Greulich Engineers."

For more information, contact Tom Hiles at (270) 745-6208. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.