Alumni Couple Supports
John Krenicki, Jr. and Donna Krenicki, who met when they were undergraduates, are giving back to their respective schools at the University.
The couple married soon after both graduated in 1984, he with a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the School of Engineering and she with a B.A. in graphic design from the School of Fine Arts. The $100,000 endowment gift will be shared evenly by the School of Engineering, where the funds will be used as a match toward a state-funded initiative in sustainable energy, and the School of Fine Arts.
Mr. Krenicki, president and chief executive officer of GE Energy, is a member of the School of Engineering's Advisory Board. He was awarded the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2000, and was inducted as a founding fellow of the Academy of Distinguished Engineers and Hall of Fame in 2003.
The Paul Krenicki Endowed Scholars in Sustainable Energy fund was established in memory of Mr. Krenicki's brother.
"He was always interested in science and technology," Mr.Krenicki says of his late brother. "Paul didn't get a chance to play out the whole game. Now others can get a chance to do what he couldn't."
The fund will support scholarships for full-time undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate an interest in sustainable energy. The Krenickis wanted to support sustainable energy because it's a key program for the future of the school and a critical area of research and development nationally and internationally.
"We chose sustainable energy for three reasons: it is something we believe in; it's a top priority for the University; and it's an area the state is actively supporting," says Mr. Krenicki.
"We are deeply grateful to John and Donna for their strong commitment to the school's nascent sustainable energy program. In funding this scholarship, they bring visibility and substance to our energy initiative. We are indebted to them for their vision and enduring support," says Erling Smith, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Engineering.
The Donna Samson Krenicki Fund for Fine Arts will support program enhancements, specifically for the graphic design studio programs and activities within the Department of Art and Art History. The fund also may be used to support academic conferences, host guest artists, and cover travel expenses for students to attend exhibitions and shows.
"The Donna Samson Krenicki Fund for Fine Arts is a wonderful gift and an exceptional opportunity for the department," says Judith Thorpe, head of Department of Art and Art History. "This gift will certainly assist us in exposing our students to a broader range of visual culture and education. Having the financial capacity to have prominent national and international designers and artists to participate in our program via lectures, symposiums or as visiting or guest critics will be a tremendous added value and asset.We are extremely grateful to John and Donna Krenicki for their support."
"We both believe in balance," says Mr. Krenicki. It's important to support a broad spectrum of education, from the sciences to the arts,he notes. "It's good for the University and the country."
To support the School of Engineering, please contact Brian Otis, Vice President for Development, at 860.486.5960. To support the School of Fine Arts, please contact Paul Goldberg at 860.486.2692.
