College of Engineering announces $18 million in scholarship gifts
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's College of Engineering has announced nearly $18 million in donations to support scholarships.
The announcement is being made in conjunction with National Engineers Week, which started Sunday (Feb. 20) and runs through Saturday (Feb. 26).
"We are always grateful that the College of Engineering has such generous benefactors," said Leah Jamieson, the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering. "And we are especially pleased that in the last year, so many donors have decided to direct their gifts to scholarships. Those scholarships are crucial as we strive to train the next generation of engineers to take on the great global challenges."
The scholarship gifts being announced are:
* $10 million being given anonymously.
* $3 million from Gary and Susan Dernlan for College of Engineering undergraduate scholarships. Gary Dernlan is a 1981 Purdue graduate with a degree in construction engineering management. He is CEO of Lending Pro Software and Advantage Equity Funding Group. Susan Dernlan is a 1982 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts with a degree in communication. She holds positions with Lending Pro Software and Advantage Equity Funding Group. The Dernlans live in Wellington, Fla.
* $1.09 million from Warren R. Sedlacek for College of Engineering scholarships. Sedlacek earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1945. Of his gift, $1 million will be used as matching funds for Purdue Presidential Scholarships, which are awarded to students with high academic achievement and demonstrated experience in leadership, service and school or community activity. The remaining money will be divided between the Warren R. Sedlacek College of Engineering Scholarship and the Sedlacek Family College of Engineering Scholarship. The Warren R. Sedlacek College of Engineering Scholarship requires that recipients also be members of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band. Sedlacek worked in marketing for UOP, now a division of Honeywell. He is retired and lives in Riverwoods, Ill.
* $1 million from Donald Heirman for scholarships in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Heirman received a bachelor's degree in 1962 and a master's degree in 1963, both in electrical engineering. He is president of Don Heirman Consultants in Lincroft, N.J., which specializes in training, standards and educational electromagnetic compatibility consultation.
* $1 million from the estate of Ruth Kern in memory of her brother, Elmer F. Kern Jr. The scholarships are for the School of Mechanical Engineering. Elmer Kern earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1943. After graduation, he joined the Army Air Corps. He was shot down and killed in action in 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. His sister, who believed all students should have access to higher education, worked most of her adult life for AT&T in San Diego. While she never earned more than $45,000 annually, she left an estate of more than $2 million, half of which she donated to establish the Elmer F. Kern Jr. BSME '43 Scholarship.
* $1 million from Alfred and Margaret Nelson for College of Engineering scholarships. Al Nelson earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1954. He worked for Ingersoll Rand and spent much of his career overseas in Germany, Belgium, India and Japan. He is retired and lives in Granger, Ind.
* $800,000 given anonymously for scholarships though the Women in Engineering Program.
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Source: Leah Jamieson, 765-494-5346, lhj@purdue.edu