VCU news

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

Virginia Commonwealth University and the trustees of its School of Engineering Foundation have dedicated the Virginia Microelectronics Center (VMC) to C. Kenneth and Dianne Harris Wright. Kenneth Wright, a trustee of the school, and his wife Dianne are successful Richmond entrepreneurs who have pledged a $10.5 million unrestricted gift to help fund Phase II of the school's long range capital expansion plans, and support for faculty and students.

"Dianne and I look forward to the School of Engineering's continued expansion," Kenneth Wright said during a ceremony in the school's courtyard.

The gift to the School of Engineering Endowment Fund will assist in the funding for construction of a new 106,000 square foot bio-engineering building, an 18,000 square foot bio-processing/biochip research facility and increased funding to support faculty and students.

"This is a momentous occasion," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani. "We applaud the Wrights for their investment."

The VMC is a key link between high-technology industry in Virginia and the academic sector. Few engineering schools have a facility like this one, where undergraduate engineering students can actually obtain hands-on experience operating semi-conductor processing equipment in a "cleanroom" before spending time as interns in industrial positions. After graduation, these students have the experience to immediately enter the engineering workforce or continue with advanced graduate studies.

"This most generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wright will play a very important role in making an excellent, hands-on engineering education a reality for even more of our bright and highly-deserving potential students," said Robert J. Mattauch, Ph.D., School of Engineering dean.