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Thanks to the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, this fall, Western Illinois University engineering students will be able to study, learn and put into practice what they learn in enhanced lab facilities on the WIU-QC campus. Last December, WIU-QC announced a $161,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to be used to re-purpose two existing spaces in Riverfront Hall. Just in time for the start of Western's new academic year, the spaces have been transformed into a modern computer-aided design (CAD) classroom and an innovation lab and will be available for use by students when classes begin next week. From L to R: WIU-QC School of Engineering Dean William Pratt; Myron Schiebe, director (retired) Shive-Hattery and member of the WIU Engineering Advisory Board and WIU Advisory Board; Lynne M. Sasmazer, program director, Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust; Troy K. Ross, executive administrator, Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust; and Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas.
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Jeffrey Rose (second from left), faculty assistant in the WIU-QC School of Engineering, conducts a tour of WIU-QC's enhanced lab facilities for use by engineering students. The enhancements were made possible by a $161,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Also pictured in this photo are: Troy K. Ross, executive administrator, Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust (far left); Lynne M. Sasmazer, program director, Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust (second from right); and WIU-QC School of Engineering Dean William Pratt.
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L to R: WIU President Jack Thomas, Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Program Director Lynne Sasmazer, Carver Charitable Trust Executive Administrator Troy Ross, and Anthony Wallace (Moline, IL), an engineering student, listen during a tour of the enhanced WIU-QC lab facilities on the WIU-QC campus.
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Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Donation Enables WIU-QC to Debut Newly Updated CAD and Innovation Labs for Fall '16 Engineering Students

August 17, 2016

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MOLINE, IL — Thanks to the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, this fall, Western Illinois University engineering students will be able to study, learn and put into practice what they learn in enhanced lab facilities on the WIU-QC campus. Last December, WIU-QC announced a $161,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to be used to re-purpose two existing spaces in Riverfront Hall.

Just in time for the start of Western's new academic year, the spaces have been transformed into a modern computer-aided design (CAD) classroom and an innovation lab and will be available for use by students when classes begin next week.

According to WIU School of Engineering Director William Pratt, the new CAD classroom is now equipped for up to 32 students, enabling it to accommodate eight additional students, as the original CAD classroom could only accommodate 24 students. The classroom supports engineering courses and related research in computational methods, fluid dynamics, electronics, finite element analysis, heat/thermodynamics and other computer-based practicums.

"The core of an engineering program is the ability of students to solve real engineering problems and put their skills to practice in a real-world environment," Pratt explained. "The expanded and updated CAD classroom, along with the new innovation lab, will make needed and significant changes to WIU engineering students' individual educational experiences. In short, students join our program because they want to design, engineer and create, and now they can do just that!"

WIU Interim Provost and Academic Vice President Kathleen Neumann said the effect of this will not only have a positive impact for Western students, but also on the region and beyond.

"We are very appreciative of this grant provided by the Carver Trust," she added. "As our engineering program continues to grow and thrive, the CAD classroom is a welcome addition that will support both classroom instruction and research activities."

WIU Vice President for Quad Cities and Planning Joe Rives noted the expanded and enhanced engineering lab facilities provided by the Carver Trust also support the Quad Cities Chamber's "Q2030: A Regional Action Plan," which is to "ensure the Quad Cities is a magnet for people, investments and jobs."

"The partnership between the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities directly supports the QC Chamber's goals for Q2030, which is to build on the strength of our region and to leverage our region's opportunities, which will develop young workers for stable, well-paying employment and will retain and attract business opportunities for a prosperous Quad Cities economy. We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings to help advance our region," he added.

The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is one of the largest private philanthropic foundations in the state of Iowa, with annual grant distributions of more than $13 million. It was created through the will of Carver, a Muscatine industrialist and philanthropist.

Since the beginning of the trust's grant-making activities in 1987, more than $283 million has been distributed in the form of over 1,900 individual grants. Biomedical and scientific research; primary, secondary and higher education; and other issues related to the needs of youth are the program areas of greatest interest to the Carver Charitable Trust.

"We are pleased to support WIU-QC in this endeavor to establish high-quality classrooms and laboratories for scientific and technical instruction, and we look forward to witnessing its benefit to the greater Quad Cities region," said Lynne Sasmazer, program director of the Carver Trust.

"The charitable support that the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has provided organizations over many years is outstanding. We are pleased and honored to have received this grant that will have a significant impact on our engineering program and our students," stated Brad Bainter, executive director of the Western Illinois University Foundation.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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