The roots of the relationship between Florida Institute of Technology and Harris Corp. go deep, spanning five decades to a time when one was known as Brevard Engineering College and the other as Radiation Inc.
Since those early days, when Radiation President George Shaw served as the chairman of the college’s board of trustees, the two organizations have worked together to transform the Mosquito Coast into the Space Coast.
This synergy reached a new level with the announcement of a multimillion dollar commitment to Florida Tech as part of the university’s Golden Anniversary Campaign. The $50 million campaign, through the end of 2007, had raised $43.7 million.
The commitment will make possible the creation of the Harris Institute for Assured Information, to be housed in a new 24,000-square-foot Harris Center for Science and Engineering. The Harris Corporation Charitable Fund, held by the Community Foundation of Brevard (CFB), made a $5 million gift to the university. Harris Corp. has pledged an additional $2 million in support from its Research and Development budget to the new institute over the course of four years.
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| Artist's rendering of the new Harris Center for Science and Engineering |
Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese heralded the commitment as a new chapter in the long-running collaboration.
“Florida Tech and Harris have a long history with each other, and this donation will further strengthen our remarkable partnership,” said Catanese. “The new Harris Institute for Assured Information will enhance both organizations’ remarkable strengths in this 21st century research and development frontier.”
In fact, Florida Tech’s already strong reputation in information assurance served as one of the catalysts for this gift. Harris President and CEO Howard L. Lance said his corporation thought long and hard to determine what aspect of the Florida Tech academic mission to support.
“We extensively researched Florida Tech with our own people,” said Lance. “We wanted to know what differentiates this university from the rest and can we make that aspect of the university even better. What we learned is that information assurance is one of Florida Tech’s strengths, and a natural area for collaboration.”
Gary F. Lang, president and CEO of the CFB, said the gift showcases the foundation’s continuing mission.
“The CFB does things that change people’s lives,” Lang said. “The CFB is very proud of its relationship with Harris Corp., and we know that Florida Institute of Technology, with this grant, will change people’s lives, too.”
Indeed, lives will be changed through the science of information assurance. Information assurance is the computer science dedicated to protecting people and organizations from malicious software, and the hackers who employ such code to steal money, or information, or shut down systems. Florida Tech’s Center for Security Science, the precursor to the new institute, is internationally renowned in the field.
Florida Tech’s Senior Vice President for Advancement Thomas G. Fox noted that this Harris gift is the corporation’s second lead gift for a Florida Tech capital campaign.
“Harris Corp. has a strong tradition of giving to Florida Institute of Technology, and for that we are grateful,” said Fox. “Nearly 20 years ago, Harris Corp. made a $5 million gift that was the centerpiece of a successful $25 million campaign. This tremendous contribution will serve in the same capacity for the Golden Anniversary Campaign.”
The $5 million gift will be divided into three main segments. First, $1.75 million will help build the Harris Center for Science and Engineering. Secondly, $2.5 million will fund a Harris Faculty Chair in Assured Information. Third, $750,000 will fund student scholarships and fellowships.
For Fox, the gift is emblematic of the Golden Anniversary Campaign’s goals.
“When we set up the campaign, we wanted 40 percent to fund bricks and mortar—new buildings on campus,” said Fox. “We targeted 20 percent toward student financial aid, 20 percent to faculty support and the final 20 percent to support research. This remarkable gift touches all four bases.”
While the campaign’s goal is now in sight, Fox said there is still much work to do to ensure its success. He added that this gift from the Harris Corporation Charitable Fund held by the CFB, however, will reverberate through the end of the campaign.
“Corporations and foundations always ask who else is on board,” said Fox. “By having the emphatic imprimatur of the Harris Corp. and the Community Foundation of Brevard on the Golden Anniversary Campaign, we will enjoy enhanced credibility and visibility through September of 2009.”
Jay Wilson
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Florida Institute of Technology recently received $250,000 for scholarships from the Thomas E. McNamara estate. The recent bequest brings the value of endowments from Thomas and Lois McNamara to more than $465,000.
The McNamaras started the Melissa Lee Crist Honorary Scholarship in 1998 to honor their granddaughter,
a Florida Tech alumna who was injured in a car accident shortly after graduation. The accident left Crist ’92 unable to pursue her career in aviation management with flight.
“Melissa loved Florida Tech and they (the McNamaras) wanted to do something to help others get the good education that she enjoyed,” said Florida Tech Trustee Dale A. Dettmer.
Mr. McNamara added another endowed scholarship named the Thomas E. and Lois R. McNamara Scholarship a year later.
“Tom was a very caring and generous individual,” said Sue Garro, Crist’s aunt. “He wanted to help young people achieve their goals and give back to their community.”
Nearly $62,000 has been awarded to about a dozen deserving students to continue their studies at Florida Tech.
The current recipient, Matthew Danella, embodies the purpose of the McNamara scholarship. Danella is a senior in the preprofessional biology program and a member of the soccer team. He is a four-year letter winner and has started on the soccer team every year. His academic work is just as impressive. He has made the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Role each year. To be eligible for the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, a student-athlete must post a minimum grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. After graduating from Florida Tech, Danella plans to attend pharmacy school and eventually open his own practice. “Thank you for making this amazing education possible,” wrote Danella in a letter to the McNamara estate.
For more information about giving to Florida Tech, contact Beverly Sanders, development director, at sandersb@fit.edu or (321) 674-6155 or go to http://campaign.fit.edu.
Melinda Millsap
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