Giving Opportunities

Tin Man

Supporting Mechanical Engineering is a wonderful way to help the department continue its tradition of excellence. Gifts make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, faculty, and the broader campus community. You may choose to give to the department's general fund, to a named fund, or to create your own fund. 

Areas for support include:

  • Scholarships for undergraduate students
  • Fellowships for graduate students
  • Faculty and department research initiatives

You may also want to consider giving to the department through your estate.

Contact the Mechanical Engineering External Relations Officer Jennifer Clarke for all questions regarding private giving.

Jennifer Clarke
612-626-9354
jclarke@umn.edu

 

 

List of Funds

Department Support

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American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Fund # 8753

To support the annual ASME student group.

Formula SAE Fund

Fund # 5521

To support the annual Formula SAE student team.

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Start-Up Fund

Fund # 8983

Funds will be used to help new faculty set up their offices and laboratories.

Mechanical Engineering New Building Fund

Fund # 3836

Funds will be used for the renovation of the old building, office space and lab space.

Mechanical Engineering Strategic Initiatives Fund

Fund # 2127

Funds to be used for Mechanical Engineering Department priorities.

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Laboratory Equipment Fund

Fund # 2837

Funds will be used to replace obsolete undergraduate laboratory equipment.

Minnesota Electric Racing

Fund # 20622

To support the annual Minnesota Electric Racing student team.

She is ME

Fund # 22434

To support the She is ME student group.

Undergraduate Student Support

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Mechanical Engineering — ME Scholarship Fund

Fund # 7991

For annual gifts for mechanical engineering undergraduate students awarded by the department.

Axness — Jay T. Axness Scholarship Fund

Fund #21687

Bates — Albert H. Bates Endowment

Fund # 6398

The purpose of the endowment is to support the department's design and manufacturing division. The fund is flexible enough to cover both aid to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as to provide special materials and equipment for special design projects. In general, it should be of an entrepreneurial nature.

Christenson — Ronald L. and Janet A. Christenson Scholarship in CSE

Fund # 6466

To provide scholarships to students majoring in mechanical engineering having financial need.

Erickson — Russell F. Erickson Scholarship Fund

Fund # 2765

Memorial to R. Erickson established by ITT Rayonier Foundation for worthy ME students, based on need and academic achievement. Recipient selected by Head of Mechanical Engineering.

Flynn — Alvin R. Flynn Scholarship Fund

Fund # 2799

Scholarship in honor of Alvin Flynn. Given to students entering their third year of undergraduate study in mechanical engineering. Selection is based on financial need and academic achievement.

Freund — Peter Freund Scholarship Fund

Fund # 20050

Graco — Graco Scholarship Fund

Fund # 7768

To provide payments to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in mechanical engineering according to department guidelines. The sholarships will be administered in accordance with the applicable nondiscrimination laws. Preference is that scholarships be awarded to students beginning their third or fourth year of the degree program, maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

Heberlein — Joachim and Yuko Heberlein Fellowship and Scholarship Fund

Fund # 20216

This fund was created in honor of Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus Joachim Heberlein in celebration of his lasting legacy of teaching and research. Professor Heberlein believed strongly in the value of extracurricular learning experiences and wanted to help by enhancing the student experience, while enabling opportunities for international exposure.

This fund is to help finance international learning experiences for undergraduate or graduate students. For example, not not limited to, travel costs to a conference abroad, or through the visit of a scientific laboratory.

Horton — Horton, Inc. Scholarship Fund

Fund # 7206

To provide scholarships for students of academic merit majoring in mechanical engineering, renewable for the student depending on satisfactory progress toward a degree. Preference shall be given to students with an interest in power train engineering.

Ibele — Warren Ibele Scholarship Fund

Fund # 7373

To provide mechanical engineering scholarships of $1000 per year as funds are available.

Jarvis — George and Margaret Jarvis Undergrad Scholarship Fund

Fund # 3055

Scholarship for undergraduate student in mechanical engineering - to be used for tuition, books, and fees. Must be U.S. citizen.

Johnson — Alfred F. Johnson Scholarship Fund

Fund # 7164

To provide a scholarship for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.

Johnson — Orville and Verna Johnson Scholarship Fund

Fund # 5630

To provide scholarships to undergraduate students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Mayhugh — Benjamin Mayhugh Fellowship and Scholarship Fund

Fund # 4156

To be used for graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and faculty support. Annual awards to students enrolled in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The number of awards and amount of each will be determined by the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Murphy/Robertson — Tom Murphy and B.J. Robertson Scholarship Fund

Fund # 1930

To provide scholarships (undergraduate or graduate) for students majoring in mechanical engineering. Preference given in the following order: 1) associated with internal combustion engine research and deserving of financial aid, 2) studying internal combustion engines and deserving of financial aid, 3) students in mechanical engineering and deserving of financial aid.

Nelson — Harry Morgan Nelson and Elveda Jackson Nelson Scholarship Fund

Fund # 4869

To provide scholarships to students of academic merit in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Ogata — Katsuhiko Ogata Scholarship Fund

Fund # 6060

To provide a scholarship to a student of academic merit in mechanical engineering with a demonstrated excellence in the area of system dynamics and control. This scholarship is in honor of Professor Emeritus Katsuhiko Ogata, for his exceptional teaching and guidance.

Pierce — Walter and Margaret Pierce Endowment Fund

Fund # 3752

To provide undergraduate scholarships, fellowships and programmatic needs of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Russ — Drew Russ Memorial Scholarship

Fund # 24390

Andrew (Drew) Russ graduated with honors from Bemidji High School. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Drew was provided an internship with TEAM Industries and then went on to work at Schwing America as an Engineering Manager. He took great pride in his work and was committed to forming meaningful relationships and teaching technical solutions. Drew had a passion for learning which was only surpassed by his passion for sharing with others. He was a mentor to many young engineers during his career as an Engineering Manager. Drew enjoyed golfing, playing softball and the great outdoors. Above all else, he loved being a husband and a father. He was the definition of super dad. Drew would have loved knowing that this scholarship would give opportunities to other students in the pursuit of their dreams. The family of Drew Russ feels blessed to offer this scholarship in his memory for students with financial need. 

Gift Form

Sparrow — Ephraim Sparrow Memorial Award Fund

Fund # 23678

​This fund was created in honor of Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Ephraim Sparrow in celebration of his lasting legacy of passionate teaching and prolific research.

To honor Eph's legacy, the ME Department has established the Ephraim Sparrow Memorial Award fund. This fund will provide scholarship awards for mechanical engineering students who need help funding their education.

Swanson — Albert Swanson Memorial Fund

Fund # 21680

Wicklund — Gerald Wicklund Scholarship Fund

Fund # 4919

To provide a yearly scholarship of at least $500 to a mechanical engineering student with financial need.

Wilson — John G. and Joyce M. Wilson Scholarship Fund

Fund # 7081

To provide a scholarship for a currently enrolled or transferring student, majoring in mechanical engineering, who is a U.S. citizen with severe financial need.

Graduate Student Support

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Mechanical Engineering — ME Fellowship Fund

Fund # 5791

The purpose of the fund is to support the department's graduate students. This fund is matched by the Graduate School, so the impact of a gift is doubled.

American Filtration & Separations Society Fellowship Fund

Fund # 3948

To provide one annual $5,000 fellowship to a student in aerosol research, with an emphasis on filtration.

Conrad — Harold and Phyllis Conrad Fellowship Fund

Fund # 1344

To provide funding for full-time graduate students in the department.

Corporate and Alumni Fellowship Fund

Fund # 3569

To attract high quality graduate students to attend graduate school with mechanical engineering as their major.

Curry — Ezra B. and Eleanor N. Curry Endowment Fund

Fund # 1853

To provide funding for top priority fellowship support.

Dekko — Chester E. Dekko Foundation Graduate Fellow Fund

Fund # 3525

To provide an annual award to a full-time graduate student in mechanical engineering.

Forstrom — Richard J. Forstrom Memorial Fund

Fund # 1115

For an outstanding applicant for graduate study in biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Fruin — Scott Fruin Fellowship Fund

Fund # 2449

To provide funding for graduate fellowships for graduate students in the department's Particle Technology Laboratory.

Heberlein — Joachim and Yuko Heberlein Fellowship and Scholarship Fund

Fund # 20216

This fund was created in honor of Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus Joachim Heberlein in celebration of his lasting legacy of teaching and research. Professor Heberlein believed strongly in the value of extracurricular learning experiences and wanted to help by enhancing the student experience, while enabling opportunities for international exposure.

This fund is to help finance international learning experiences for undergraduate or graduate students. For example, but not limited to, travel costs to a conference abroad or through the visit of a scientific laboratory.

Jordan — Richard C. and Freda M. Jordan Endowment for Graduate Fellowships Fund

Fund # 5454

To provide fellowships to any graduate students chosen by the department based on current departmental criteria.

Hung — Dr. Wendell Hung Fellowship Fund

Fund # 20227

Lonn — Dana Lonn Fellowship Fund

Fund # 7819

To provide funding for graduate fellowships in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Science and Engineering.

Mayhugh — Benjamin Mayhugh Fellowship and Scholarship Fund

Fund # 4156

To be used for graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and faculty support. Annual awards to students enrolled in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The number of awards and amount of each will be determined by the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

McFarland — Andrew and Nancy McFarland Endowed Fellowship Fund

Fund # 6787

To provide fellowships to graduate students in mechanical engineering who have attended and graduated from high school in Minnesota.

Medical Device Design Fellowship Fund

Fund # 5791

The purpose of the fund is to support the department's graduate students. This fund is matched by the Graduate School, so the impact of a gift is doubled.

Severson — Asbjorn M. Severson Fellowship Fund

Fund # 7578

To provide payments to full-time graduate students at the U of M according to the guidelines established within the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Whitson — Lee S. Whitson Fellowship Fund

Fund # 5776

To be awarded to full-time graduate students working toward a degree in mechanical engineering, in good academic standing with exceptional potential in their field. To be used for tuition, or as a stipend. The award can be renewed annually provided they are making demonstrable progress. Selection is to be by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Department's Fellowship Committee.