EV Maker Donates $1M

Kettering University has received a $1 million gift from Windrose Technology, a Chinese electric vehicle company with operations in Silicon Valley. The gift, led by Wen Han, Windrose Technology founder and CEO, and Jason Roycht, a 1996 Kettering alumnus, underscores the university’s commitment to incorporating sustainability and clean energy education into the curriculum, according to a Kettering news release. EV Maker Donates $1M.

“Kettering University is pleased to partner with Windrose Technology in preparing the next generation of engineers and innovators to tackle the pressing challenges of sustainable manufacturing and materials as well as clean energy,” Jennifer Patterson, Kettering University vice president of advancement and external relations, said in a statement.

“This generous gift not only enhances our ability to provide students with hands-on experience in renewable energy and green manufacturing technologies but also represents the critical connection between education and industry.”

Sustainability Endowment

The gift includes a sustainability endowment to help Kettering’s College of Engineering expand its sustainability initiatives, including hosting guest speakers, organizing faculty and student participation in conferences and fostering industry partnerships. In addition to the endowment, the Windrose Technology Scholarship will benefit students with interests in sustainability, green manufacturing and mobility technologies.

“Sustainability is the key mission of my career, and automotive is the key area that drives much of the pollution today,” Han said in a statement. “Everyone starts in school before they go into the workforce and they should be entitled to study sustainability before they make a career choice.”Roycht, a strategic advisor at Windrose Technology and a former executive at Nikola Motors, added in a statement, “Wen Han is extremely forward-focused to support and inspire students to pursue studies for sustainability. When I decided to join his company, I requested his support to extend these activities to Kettering. Wen had little understanding of the university but quickly became impressed with the program and the key alumni, especially the strong connections to the automotive industry and Detroit.”

The Windrose gift also includes the Reske Legacy Scholarship, named after Roycht’s father-in-law, Ray Reske, who graduated from General Motors Institute, now Kettering, in 1966. The scholarship honors Reske’s legacy of inspiring multiple generations of engineers, the release states.

Flint-based Kettering University is a private, STEM-focused university recognized as one of the nation’s premier engineering, computer science and business leaders in higher education, according to university officials. Its curriculum integrates classroom learning with experiential co-op opportunities with over 400 employer partners in 21 states, according to officials.

Source: EV Maker Donates $1M

https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/chinese-ev-maker-donates-1m-to-kettering-university

A private university in Michigan will use a gift from Windrose Technology to expand its sustainability initiatives, including hosting guest speakers, organizing conferences and fostering industry partnerships.

https://www.techedmagazine.com/category/news-by-industry/transportation-education/