WSU TRI-CITIES RECEIVES LARGEST-EVER 
INDIVIDUAL DONATION

Description: atch Announcement

Washington State University Tri-Cities has received a significant boost for science and engineering programs, thanks to a pledge from CH2M HILL of up to $1 million over the next five years.

"This is a proud day for CH2M HILL, knowing that we're making an investment that will lead young people here in the Tri-Cities to higher education and future careers in science and engineering," said John Lehew, CH2M HILL plateau remediation company president and chief executive officer. CH2M HILL manages the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) central plateau remediation contract on the Hanford nuclear site in the area.


  







WSU Regent Fran Forgette addresses a Tri-Cities gathering to announce the CH2M HILL pledge. (Photo Heather Willoughby)

This is the first single-donor, seven-figure pledge to our campus," said Vicky L. Carwein, WSU Tri-Cities chancellor. "With this gift, we will be able to allow us to expand our academic offerings, including planning for a civil engineering degree, to meet the demands of regional employers."

The donation will establish two CH2M HILL faculty fellow positions (an academic director for science and a civil engineering professor), lend support to the campus' science and engineering advisory council, and create internship opportunities with career potential.

Adding two faculty members-a civil engineering professor and an academic director for science-will position WSU Tri-Cities to expand its civil engineering offerings to a bachelor of science degree and will provide leadership for College of Sciences (COS) programs.

WSU Tri-Cities currently offers the first three years of civil engineering courses, with the senior year completed at WSU Pullman. The Tri-Cities campus offers degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science within the College of Engineering and Architecture. COS programs include environmental science, life science, and physical science. Additionally, the College of Education programs at WSU Tri-Cities include a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for teachers.

"CH2M HILL has proven time and again that it believes in higher education in our community," Carwein said. "This is a tangible investment that will benefit the area."
This commitment is part of The Campaign for Washington State University. Since July 2006, the Washington State University Foundation has raised $552.6 million toward a goal of $1 billion to increase support for WSU's students, faculty, research, and programs and to leverage the University's impact across the state, nation, and world.

CH2M HILL's previous gifts to WSU Tri-Cities total $2.2 million. These donations, made over about a decade, provided $130,000 in scholarships for the first freshman class in 2007, hired a computer science faculty member in 2001, provided research grants for graduate students, and established entrepreneurship courses and internships for business students.

WSU Tri-Cities' portion of the $1 billion goal is $25 million, focused on sustainable energy, wine science, scholarships, K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and efforts to earn federal designation as a Hispanic-serving institution. 

Employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations, and program management for government, civil, industrial, and energy clients. The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of water, transportation, environmental, energy and power, and facilities and infrastructure. The firm has been recognized as a most admired company and leading employer; it was named five times to the list of Fortune 100 best companies to work for.

WSU Tri-Cities is located along the Columbia River in Richland, Wash. Established in 1989 with upper division and graduate programs, WSU Tri-Cities expanded in 2007 to a four year undergraduate campus offering 17 bachelor's, 14 master's, and seven doctoral degrees. Learn ore about the fastest-growing campus in the WSU system at www.tricity.wsu.edu.