Longtime supporters fund PSU Altoona engineering endowment
Singer family pledges $1M; engineering suite named in honor
Trending
An area of Penn State Altoona's Cypress Building has been named the Richard A. and Jeane V. Singer Engineering Suite to honor a $1 million gift commitment from the Singers, who are longtime supporters and volunteers for the University.
An unveiling ceremony was held July 30.
The couple's gift commitment of $1 million established the Penn State Altoona Engineering Excellence Endowment.
The fund will provide scholarships for students, and resources will also benefit programs within all the college's engineering degree programs, such as Motorheads in Germany, a study abroad program Richard Singer implemented, and the motorsports club's Mini Baja competition. It will also help to fund research, travel and lab equipment.
The Cypress Building on the Ivyside campus houses faculty offices as well as classrooms and electro-mechanical engineering technology labs.
"The naming of the engineering suite in the Cypress Building is especially meaningful to Jeane and me because it represents our gratitude for the opportunities that helped shape our lives and our hope that future students will find those same possibilities waiting for them," Richard said.
Now retired, Richard was an instructor in engineering, computer science, entrepreneurship and security and risk analysis at Penn State Altoona. He taught for 18 years in the EMET program and was a student adviser.
Jeane and Richard Singer stand with their son, Scott, outside the Richard A. and Jeane V. Singer Engineering Suite at Penn State Altoona. Photo courtesy Penn State. Creative Commons
During his tenure, he regularly encountered students who were struggling financially.
"Education opened doors for us, guided our paths and helped make our careers possible, and we are both deeply thankful to be able to give back," he said. "As the cost of education continues to rise, we hope this gift will ease the way for Altoona-area students -- particularly those who might otherwise think a university education is out of reach -- and give them a place where they can learn, grow, dream and build a future through a world-class engineering education."
The Singers also created a scholarship through the Open Doors Scholarship Program, part of a comprehensive student success initiative addressing the financial, academic and personal challenges that undergraduates face in earning their degrees.
"Your kindness and generosity matter," Penn State Altoona Chancellor Ron Darbeau told the Singers at the ceremony. "It matters to our faculty and staff who feel seen and supported. It matters to our students -- past, present and those who will grace our halls."
Jeane was on the alumni board for the College of Health and Human Development and serves on the Centre Stage Community Advisory Council for Penn State School of Theatre. Richard served as chair of Penn State Altoona's Philanthropic Council, and both he and his wife have been recognized as members of the Ivyside Society, the Atherton Society and the Laurel Circle of the Mount Nittany Society.
"As a retired Penn State Altoona professor, I treasure my years teaching in the engineering program and the many students I was fortunate to know," said Richard. "I hope this gift supports those who will study here in the years ahead."