HOUGHTON, MI--The Michigan Tech Fund announced today that MTU alumnus John Opie and his wife, Ruanne will be giving $5 million to the University's Leaders for Innovation capital campaign. The gift is one of the largest ever received by the University from individual donors.
The Opies had earlier pledged $3.6 million to the campaign, but decided to increase their gift to $5 million to provide seed money for Michigan Tech's proposed Center for Integrated Learning and Information Technology. The Center, which is the University's next planned capital outlay construction project, would provide 200,000 gross square feet of space for electronic classrooms, computer laboratories, training rooms, learning centers, and library needs.
Michigan Tech President Curt Tompkins said the Opies' gift will be targeted at the core of the project, expansion of the library. "It will integrate emerging information technologies and services to further the educational and research missions of the University, as well as the economic and cultural goals of the State," said Tompkins. "We are truly grateful for this generous gift."
Opie, a 1961 graduate of Michigan Tech, is vice chairman and executive officer of General Electric Company of Fairfield, CT. "I really want to give something to my alma mater to thank the University for what it has given me and to help them accomplish their ambitious and far sighted campaign goals," he said. "We hope our contribution will encourage other alumni to donate to this ground breaking effort to ensure the continued improvement of Michigan Tech and its continued reputation as one of the nation's top institutions of higher learning."
Michigan Tech's Leaders for Innovation Campaign intends to raise $100 million for the University by 2003. The campaign will fund student scholarships, faculty endowments, information technology enhancements, and other critical needs.
"John and Ruanne Opie's gift provides us with tremendous momentum as we enter our capital campaign," said National Campaign Chair Dick Robbins of Seattle. "This transformational gift will greatly enhance the University's ability to attract quality faculty and students."
A native of Detroit, Opie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Tech and has spent his entire professional career with General Electric. His involvement with the University has been extensive. He was vice chair of Michigan Tech's 1983-87 capital campaign and has served as a trustee of the Michigan Tech Fund for 13 years and as Fund president for two years. He has received MTU's Board of Control Silver Medal, has been named a distinguished alumnus, received an honorary doctorate degree, and has been a commencement speaker at Michigan Tech.
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