The Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation of Manitowoc, Wis., has awarded the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) a grant of $75,000 to establish an endowment fund in the name of John D. West for engineering student scholarships, which will be funded by proceeds from the investment of the fund.
“I’m extremely pleased that the HCEA decided to make this investment in our students,” UW-Manitowoc Dean and CEO Dan Campagna said. “Scholarships are extremely valuable tools for students as they finance their education, and our engineering students are certainly fortunate to have the collaborative support of the HCEA.”
Half of the grant to the HCEA has been donated to the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Foundation in respect for the West Foundation’s focus on local giving. UW-Manitowoc is a two-year college, and students pursuing degrees beyond an Associate of Arts and Sciences transfer to baccalaureate schools to complete those degrees. Interest generated by the monies donated to the UW-Manitowoc Foundation will fund an annual scholarship for engineering students who transfer to such schools in pursuit of their degrees.
The other half has been placed on deposit by the HCEA. Interest from this portion of the grant will fund the Historical Construction Equipment Association West Foundation Scholarship, and two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded annually. While the UW-Manitowoc scholarships are limited to their students, the HCEA West Foundation scholarship is for HCEA members and immediate family members to attend accredited college or university engineering programs in their home area. The Michigan chapter of the HCEA has donated $250 towards making one scholarship available immediately, rather than waiting for interest to accrue, with the balance of the funds coming from the HCEA itself.
Both scholarship programs will be administered by UW-Manitowoc, and all applications for the scholarships will be forwarded to them for processing. UW-Manitowoc will also handle all screening of candidates for the scholarships. Donations to the fund, made either to the University of Wisconsin – Manitowoc Foundation or the HCEA, are being accepted. All donations will be evenly split between the UW-Manitowoc Foundation and the HCEA.
The program is the result of efforts by National Director Harold Radandt, who conceived the idea for the fund, presented it to the boards of the HCEA and the West Foundation, and coordinated arrangements for its administration with Campagna.
