New $1 million gift for scholarships also announced

Cleveland State University dedicated its new, state-of-the-art engineering facility, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, in a special ceremony held on campus December 15. The building, made possible by a combined $20 million gift from Donald and Pamela Washkewicz and the Parker Hannifin Foundation, will include teaching and research laboratories, simulation labs for computer modeling, student collaboration spaces and smart classrooms. As part of the festivities, Donald and Pamela Washkewicz announced a new $1 million gift for the Washkewicz Scholars Program.

“I am extraordinarily pleased to be here today with Don and Pam Washkewicz to celebrate the dedication of this tremendous new resource for our students, our university and the broader community.” said Ronald M. Berkman, president of Cleveland State University. “I also want to thank the Washkewiczes for their latest gift, which will further educational opportunity for all and support our next generation of engineers and business leaders.”

“Pam and I and our entire family have been delighted to see this facility take shape and are truly honored to have had the opportunity to work with President Berkman to enhance the important mission of the University,” Donald Washkewicz noted. “We hope the additional support we are announcing today will enable the CSU engineering program to do even more to make engineering a core driver of job growth and economic opportunity in the region.”

The new building will also feature the Dan T. Moore MakerSpace, where students can transform their ideas into reality using state-of-the art technology, and the Parker Hannifin Human Motion and Control Lab, which is developing innovative orthotics and prosthetics to assist individuals with mobility issues. The facility was financed through a public-private partnership, through capital funds provided by the State of Ohio. Additional support was provided by Dan T. Moore and the Estate of Frederick H. Ray.

The Washkewicz Scholars Program provides full academic scholarships for undergraduate students in an engineering discipline, including civil, mechanical, electrical, computer or chemical engineering.

“CSU is committed to developing first-in-class education, research and Engaged Learning opportunities that will continue to ensure that we are graduating ‘ready-to-go’ Engineers,’” added Anette M. Karlsson, dean of the Washkewicz College of Engineering at CSU. “We would like to thank the Washkewiczes for their sustained commitment to this goal and to the continued elevation of CSU as a premier urban university.”

Donald Washkewicz graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Cleveland State in 1972 and joined Parker Hannifin in the same year. He rose up through the ranks to ultimately serve as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, retiring in 2016. In recognition of Donald and Pamela Washkewicz’s significant contributions to CSU, the University named the College of Engineering in their honor.

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