Grainger VIP Impact Report

we now support 120 STAR scholars. This is a 118 percent increase from the first cohort of 55 in 2021. As you’ll see in the fund report, this program has been developed into a valuable and loyal community of committed scholars and staff advisers invested in their success. In many cases, the STAR program is the deciding factor in students choosing UW–Madison and the College of Engineering over other institutions, because of the high level of financial assistance these scholarships provide. The support of The Grainger Foundation has been immeasurable in our mission to ensure that every student who wishes to pursue an engineering education may do so, regardless of their financial situation. We’ve also been maximizing and enhancing our existing spaces to accommodate our growing student body through strategic renovations. Recently, we completed two major projects within Engineering Hall. The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering wrapped up a two-year renovation of its summer lab, transforming a 1990s-era space into a state-of-the-art facility, where hundreds of chemical engineering students receive hands on training each year. This transformation, primarily funded by donor gifts, creates a bright and modern environment for immersive learning. Similarly, we’ve revamped the structural materials laboratory, in Engineering Hall. The laboratory, also last renovated in the 1990s, now features industry-standard equipment, providing undergraduates with practical skills that will benefit them throughout their careers. These renovations enhance the quality of education and demonstrate our commitment to effective stewardship of existing resources, allowing us to educate more students in cutting-edge environments. Saving perhaps the best for last, I am pleased to share that after nearly six years of quiet fundraising and three years of lobbying, in March, funding for the new engineering building was finally signed into law. This approval is monumental for the College of Engineering. It will allow us to admit more undergraduates, expand research programs, provide much-needed space for collaborative learning,

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