National Instruments CEO donating $10 million to UT

[TexasTowelie]

James Truchard, the president and CEO of Austin-based National Instruments Corp., has pledged to donate $10 million to the University of Texas over the next several years to help pay for its planned Engineering Education and Research Center.

Truchard’s gift is earmarked for a student project area that will be a centerpiece of the 430,000-square-foot building for the Cockrell School of Engineering. The National Instruments Student Project Center will include 23,000 square feet in which students can design and build robots, biomedical sensors, satellites and other devices.

“I have been to universities all over the world, and it became very apparent to me that UT lacked a central location where engineering students can innovate and collaborate — a place where they can learn by doing,” Truchard said in a statement.

Truchard earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics, as well as a doctorate in electrical engineering, from UT. In 1976, he cofounded National Instruments while employed as managing director of acoustical measurements at UT’s Applied Research Laboratories. National Instruments develops software and hardware that scientists and engineers use for designing measurement and control systems.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/national-instruments-ceo-donating-10-million-to-ut/nTmTr/ .

[dballance]

1. Thank Goodness it's not for another damned football stadium

I'm glad to see corporate execs pledging money to academic endeavors at a university rather than just trying to get their name on the next football field.

[liberal N proud]

2. That was my first thought

Another Stadium or arena.