Air Products Contributes $72,000 to Support Student Development

A delegation of alumni and friends from Air Products and Chemicals presented the College of Engineering with a $72,000 donation on October 11. This contribution will be used to support educational opportunities within the Mechanical and Chemical Engineering Departments; real-world industry research within the Multidisciplinary Design Laboratory; and student development opportunities through STEM outreach and the student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Tau Beta Pi.

In his remarks, The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S, expressed his gratitude for the outstanding commitment of the College’s alumni within Air Products, who have been “so engaged, and involved in so many ways” with the University for more than 30 years.

Dr. Gary Gabriele, Drosdick Endowed Dean of Engineering, provided details on the impact this “gold standard” alumni relationship has made in the lives of the College’s students and faculty. Alumni from Air Products and Chemicals have contributed and shepherded resources of more than $1 million to the College, which has improved laboratory experiences and research capabilities; provided professional development opportunities for students; created real-world student research programs and internships; and improved the experience offered to the LEAD Engineering students who spend part of their summers with the College.

As part of the official check presentation, George Bitto EE ’81, Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer of Air Products, remarked on the “strong match between what is taught at the College of Engineering and what is valued at Air Products,” including strong technical abilities and interpersonal skills, an excellent work ethic, and set of guiding core values. He also suggested that this match is what has helped so many of the College’s alumni to reach high levels within the organization for more than 50 years.

Bitto was joined in making the official check presentation by a delegation from Air Products and Chemicals that included Joseph Lamack ChE ’87, Robert Gordon ChE ’80, Steven Pastore ChE ‘82, Jillian Burgio, and Robert Coraor.