Rose-Hulman Gift to Fund STEM Scholarship
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowRose-Hulman Institute of Technology has received a $1.6 million donation for a scholarship program to encourage high school students toward science, technology, engineering and math career fields. The gift from Gregg and Diana Lowe will allow select students to participate in the school's two-week Operation Catapult exploratory program.
November 11, 2014
News Release
Terre Haute, Ind. — Gregg and Diana Lowe of Austin, Texas have provided a $1.6 million gift to establish a scholarship fund through Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (www.rose-hulman.edu) to encourage high school students from the Breakthrough college preparatory program toward science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career fields.
Gregg Lowe is president and chief executive officer of Freescale Semiconductor, a 1984 Rose-Hulman graduate, and a trustee of the Terre Haute, Indiana college—ranked the nation's best undergraduate engineering college for 16 consecutive years, by U.S. News & World Report’s College Guide.
Gregg Lowe and Freescale actively support educational endeavors that encourage K-12 students to pursue STEM studies and earn degrees in STEM-related fields. Program goals are to inspire more of our best and brightest students, especially women and those from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, to pursue STEM studies; influence the development of the technical workforce of the future; and strengthen Freescale's commitment to corporate citizenship.
Diana Lowe is a member of Breakthrough Austin's board of directors and supports many community and educational initiatives.
The couple's generous financial gift will allow two Breakthrough students to participate in Rose-Hulman's two-week STEM exploratory program, Operation Catapult, during the summer before entering their senior year.
Also, one Breakthrough program graduate that gains Rose-Hulman admission will be provided a four-year scholarship covering tuition and on-campus residence expenses.
In addition to the scholarship, the student could have the opportunity to participate in a summer internship at Freescale after completing their sophomore year at Rose-Hulman.
Priority will be given to students participating in Breakthrough programs in Austin and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“Diana and I are excited to partner with Rose-Hulman, Breakthrough Austin, and Freescale by offering this program to students with a passion for STEM,” said Gregg Lowe. “We are investing in our future innovators and couldn't be more eager to witness these kids enter academia, intern at Freescale, and graduate with a degree that someday makes a big impact in our world.”
Breakthrough (www.breakthroughaustin.org) provides a path to and through college, starting in middle school, for low-income students who will be first-generation college graduates. Breakthrough’s program combines individualized case management with extended learning time over twelve years of direct service. According to the Brookings Center on Children and Families, low-income students are seven times less likely to attend college than more affluent peers, regardless of their ability. Breakthrough Austin students are 3.5 more times more likely to graduate from high school and twice as likely to enroll in college compared with other low-income students in Central Texas.
“As a first-generation college graduate, I struggled financially to complete school and earn my degree. I know firsthand just how real that burden can be,” said Diana Lowe. “Luckily, an incredible mentor – my high school English teacher, Joy Smith – guided me on my journey and helped me overcome those hurdles. Gregg and I are honored to partner with Breakthrough Austin and Rose-Hulman to bring this opportunity to some very deserving students.”
Rose-Hulman's Operation Catapult program allows talented high school students the opportunity to explore their interests in STEM-related fields, while working with other students and a faculty mentor, to complete a hands-on project. The students also get an early dose of college life.
As an institution, Rose-Hulman is dedicated to preparing its students with the world’s best undergraduate science, engineering, and mathematics education in an environment infused with innovation, intellectual rigor, and individualized attention.
Gregg Lowe turned down an opportunity to attend Harvard University to attend Rose-Hulman. This became a monumental career and personal choice. He met Diana while a student at Rose-Hulman.
“Attending Rose-Hulman was the right choice because it gave me a strong set of principles: being well-educated and trained in engineering fundamentals; being a practical problem-solver; knowing how to work hard; and the belief that I could achieve the impossible,” said Gregg Lowe.
After graduating from Rose-Hulman, Gregg Lowe worked at Texas Instruments from 1984 to 2012. He joined Austin-based Freescale Semiconductor in June of 2012, and has helped reshape the company to identify opportunities for accelerating revenue growth and improving profitability.
About Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Founded in 1874, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is dedicated to preparing its students with the world’s best undergraduate science, engineering, and mathematics education in an environment infused with innovation, intellectual rigor, and individualized attention. The college, located in Terre Haute, Indiana, has an enrollment of approximately 2,200 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students. A national survey of engineering department deans and senior faculty, conducted by U.S. News & World Report, has consistently ranked Rose-Hulman and its academic programs No. 1 in undergraduate engineering education. Six of the institute’s professors were featured in The Princeton Review’s Best 300 Professors book, the only institution of higher learning in Indiana to be included. Learn more at www.rose-hulman.edu.
Source: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology