The General Electric Company has presented a $300,000 check to Virginia Tech's College of Engineering to create three endowed fellowships in memory of its three slain engineering professors killed on April 16.
"This gift is made in recognition of the deep connection and long standing relationship between the General Electric Company and the faculty of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. Our intention is to honor the memory of three outstanding faculty who are now lost to us. Professors Kevin Granata, Liviu Librescu, and G.V. Loganathan," said Charles "Chip" Blankenship, Jr., general manager of the GE Aero Energy group and a materials science engineering graduate of Virginia Tech.
"GE is donating the funds necessary to create permanently endowed graduate fellowships in their names. We sincerely hope that this gesture will help foster the healing process —— and allow the spirit and the work of these dedicated faculty to continue at Virginia Tech," Blankenship, also a member of the College of Engineering's Advisory Board, added.
College of Engineering Dean Richard C. Benson received the check, saying, "Each of the faculty members we lost that day was indeed an incredible teacher and mentor. Their first concern was always their students. I believe this significant contribution from GE directed towards the support of engineering students pursuing their doctorates is indeed a fitting testimony to the work of Professors Granata, Librescu, and Loganathan."