Thank you for being there WSU Foundation receives $2 million grant ...

Knight Foundation continued from front
The state is facing an alarming shortage of engineers, and that’s why Kansas
Senate President Stephen Morris issued a challenge to universities to double
the number of engineering graduates during the next five years. Wichita
aviation companies need about 300 new engineers every year. WSU, with the
aid of the Knight Foundation, will help meet that challenge.
“What appeals to the Knight Foundation is that this project will make
technology and critical thinking central to more students’ lives,” said Anne
Corriston, program director for the Knight Foundation. “Project Lead The Way
will equip students with the skills in science, technology, engineering and math
needed to work in our leading industries. Preparing the workforce for the 21st
century is key to our region’s success and is part of our overall grant-making
strategy for Wichita and Sedgwick County.”
“The Knight Foundation gift will enable the Wichita State University
College of Engineering to transform the lives of many youngsters in Sedgwick
County,” said Zulma Toro-Ramos, dean of the College of Engineering. “It will
broaden participation in the engineering profession as well as build the 21st
century workforce for the aerospace industry and beyond.”
Toro-Ramos also believes the ramifications of the gift will contribute to
maintaining the standard of living in the city of Wichita and the state of Kansas.
The Knight Foundation grant will help expand Project Lead The Way into
18 middle schools and increase the number of high schools from three to nine.
It will provide money to help the schools buy necessary equipment and
computer software.
Middle school students will have opportunities to visit WSU and its College
of Engineering, gain exposure to and experience in various teaching labs and
meet WSU faculty and students. Some of the courses they will study are design
and modeling, magic of electrons and automation and robotics.
At the high school level, opportunities will exist for students to gain college
credit through PLTW course work and take college courses at WSU while still
in high school. Those courses include introduction to engineering design,
principles of engineering and digital electronics.
In facing such a critical need for engineers, the state’s aviation industry
looks to the WSU College of Engineering to take a leadership role in growing
this pipeline of future engineers.
For more information about how you can help promote the engineering
profession on any educational level, please contact Joni Brainerd, WSU
Foundation director of development for the College of Engineering, at
(316) 978-3803 or joni.brainerd@wichita.edu.
1845 Fairmount St. • Wichita, Kansas 67260-0002
(316) 978-3040 • www.foundation.wichita.edu
Change Service Requested
Horizon
A publication of the WSU Foundation for
supporters of Wichita State University.
For change of address or other information
about Horizon, please call (316) 978-3040 or
write WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount St.,
Wichita, KS 67260-0002.
Editor: Belinda Venters
Designer: Kristi Hahn
Photographers: Contributing Photographers
For a list of WSU Foundation staff,
please visit our Web site at
www.foundation.wichita.edu.
Wichita State University does not
discriminate in its programs and activities
on the basis of race, religion, color,
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orientation, marital status, status as
a veteran or disability. The following
person has been designated to handle
inquiries regarding nondiscrimination
policies: Director, Office of Equal
Employment Opportunity, Wichita State
University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita KS
67260-0205; telephone (316) 978-6791.
Produced by University Relations 11/08
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