A record-breaking donation given earlier this year to the Russ College of Engineering and Technology has grown to $91.8 million from an earlier estimate of $80 million.
President Roderick McDavis valued a gift from the estate of the late Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ at about $80 million at his State of the University address in January. McDavis announced a revised estimate yesterday that includes an additional $12.7 million in properties to bring the value to $91.8 million.
It was very heartwarming to think that two people could be so generous to their alma mater
McDavis said in a video of yesterday's announcement, which took place in Dayton.
The gift is the largest donation given to any public university in Ohio, as well as any public engineering college.I was significantly surprised by the magnitude of the gift ' humbled really said Dennis Irwin, dean of the engineering college. It's a huge trust that these two people placed in us.
Irwin is assembling a blue-ribbon advisory committee to discuss how to distribute the gift best. He said the committee will consist of leaders in the engineering field, including those involved in the business, education, industry and government aspects of engineering.
The committee will begin working this summer on ways to improve the college.
I think it will enable us to improve our stature tremendously
Irwin said, adding that he would like to see an increase in scholarship money for students, specifically women and minorities, describing it as a pet project of his.
The committee also will discuss investing in avionics engineering, bio-medical engineering, student leadership programs and research.
Also as part of the gift, OU will retain the Russ Research Center, a 28-acre research campus located in Beavercreek, Ohio. The center, which currently houses 13 companies, will partner with the college in research and technology.
Fritz and Dolores Russ had previously given more than $8.9 million to the college named in their honor. Fritz, a 1942 graduate of OU, died in 2004. Dolores died earlier this year.
They lived very simply
said Jennifer Bowie, director of Annual Giving and Communication. They wanted to change the world.
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