South Dakota Mines in Rapid City has just received the largest single donation in its history.
Not only will it rename the school of mechanical engineering, but it will bring the latest tech to the students and researchers.
Mines Mechanical engineering alumni Les Rose’s $6 million donation will, upon Regental approval, be the largest in school history.
Department head Pierre Larochelle said it’s a reason to celebrate.
“I can tell you it’s a fantastic day to be a mechanical engineering Hardrocker," Larochelle said. "It’s very exciting, its tremendous generosity, and Les Rose is a fantastic, tremendously accomplished individual, and we couldn’t be more proud.”
Rose is the CEO of Titan Technologies, an IT and software business that includes the US Department of Energy, FEMA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency as clients.
Larochelle said the money isn’t just a one-time donation.
“The $6 million gift is going into an endowment which means it will be providing resources for the department in perpetuity," Larochelle said. "Each year, the department will receive the proceeds on that endowment and will be able to use those funds as needed to support the various activities of the department.”
For students though, that means a significant step forward in their tools.
“We’re able to have the latest and greatest technologies and equipment for them to learn on, because we have a hands-on, project-based curriculum," Larochelle said. "It’s very applied, we teach them the theory, but we also teach them the practice of engineering. So, we need to have the technologies, the equipment, for our students to get that hands-on, practical experience.”
Barring Board of Regents intervention, the department will be formally renamed to the Leslie A. Rose Department of Mechanical Engineering. The next Regents meeting is scheduled for October.