Historic $5 Million Gift Will Enhance STEM, Aviation At Lewis U

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Former Lewis University Chair of the Board of Trustees Russ Smyth and his wife, Dawn, have made an historic investment in Lewis University as they have pledged to gift more than $5 million to the new College of Aviation, Science and Technology. The donation is the largest gift from a living individual in school history will serve the growing number of students in STEM programs and enhance Lewis University’s national impact in these fields.

“Lewis already has excellent and rapidly growing aviation, science and technology programs. The goal of our gift is to provide additional resources for faculty, students and facilities to further enhance these programs and differentiate the College of Aviation, Science and Technology as one of the nation’s best,” Russ and Dawn Smyth said.

The gift will further enhance student experiences and opportunities as Lewis University expands its leadership role in the areas of cyber security, unmanned systems, data science, nano-technology, aviation and STEM. More than $20 million already has been invested in recent years in building of the state-of-the-art Science Center and the renovation of teaching and lab spaces for the sciences in the academic building.

“Russ and Dawn have seen the influence of the Lewis University sciences on their family, as two of their four children are now alumni of Lewis University. We’re grateful for this gift that will amplify the impact of a Lewis University degree for our current and future students as they become leaders in aviation, science and technology,” Dr. David Livingston, president of Lewis University, said.

Launching in the Fall 2019, the newly formed Lewis University College of Aviation, Science and Technology will better connect students, faculty and alumni to research, career and graduate school opportunities.

Photo and article via Lewis University