The Grainger College of Engineering

Engineering Visionary Scholarship Initiative

Support from alumni and friends allows the college to put our students first. Approximately 3,500 Engineering Visionary Scholarships (EVS) have been awarded to Grainger Engineers since the inception of the EVS Initiative in July 2012. Gifts to EVS of all sizes are pooled and endowed, maximizing our ability to flexibly distribute ample scholarships. Thanks to the support of our donors, larger scholarships can be distributed more consistently to students every year.

Every gift can transform the student experience. In fact, more than half of EVS gifts are under $100. Engineering Visionary Scholarships will last into perpetuity, allowing alumni and friends of the college to continue to donate to EVS funds and help generations of Grainger Engineers.

Drive World-Changing Research

As the COVID-19 pandemic developed, Professor Brian Cunningham, Intel Alumni Endowed Chair, and his team were able to pivot their research to focus on studying the COVID-19 genome and develop a portable detection tool. Professor Cunningham and his team directly benefited from donor support through his chair position which provides flexible funding for innovative research and teaching opportunities.

Our donors help our educators, researchers, and problem-solvers find solutions to the most challenging local, national, and global issues—every day. Support from our alumni and friends is vital to our ability to recruit and retain exceptional faculty, remain competitive with our peers, and bolster moonshot projects that have the potential to rapidly improve our world. Learn more.

Transform the Student Experience

Our college community programs are designed to provide academic and co-curricular support to ensure our students reach their goals and develop academically, professionally, and personally. Our Academic Redshirt in Science and Engineering (ARISE) is one such program that is providing a community of support for our students to develop into science and engineering leaders.

“I am very grateful and appreciative to people who donate to support our student communities. With donations, you have the power to change lives for the better and that is something that should not be overlooked. ARISE has molded my college experience for the better and I cannot express with words how grateful I am.” –Dios Celin Saenz, ARISE Scholar Read more.

Recruit & Retain Top Faculty

The Rosalyn S. Yalow Professorship is the first award in the college’s history to be named in honor of a female alumna. This prestigious, inaugural appointment has been awarded to Dr. Nadya Mason, Director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, physics professor, award-winning physicist, and champion for diversity in STEM.

100 years after her birth, The Grainger College of Engineering alumna and Nobel Prize Laureate will be honored for her legacy as a pioneer for women in STEM, thanks to funding from the Heising-Simons Foundation and donors to the Department of Physics Priority Fund. Read more.

A Graduate Education with a Lifetime of Returns

The Grainger College of Engineering has consistently been recognized as a leader in engineering education. Our graduate programs offer limitless opportunities for growth, involvement, and expansion of students’ skill sets. Donor support helps make this possible.

“My fellowship was granted to me through the generous gifts of donors. I see it as an expression of faith that I, and other recipients of prestigious awards, have the potential to succeed. But it doesn’t stop there. My success means nothing if it cannot be shared with others. I will make it my goal to improve the lives of everyone in all communities, directly or indirectly through my research.” –Fred Choi, Fellowship Recipient