VCU School of Engineering Scholarships Recognize Former President Eugene P. Trani

By Anne Buckley and Brian Thomas

Robert C. Williams, a founding trustee emeritus of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering, and his wife, Barbara, have established the Eugene P. Trani Leadership Scholarships.

The scholarships recognize Trani’s “extraordinary contribution to the school during his 19-year term as president of the university and the key role he played in creating the School of Engineering,” according to Williams. Trani retired as president of VCU and CEO of the VCU Health System on June 30. 

Two full scholarships, one for an in-state student and one for an out-of-state student, will be funded annually at the VCU School of Engineering through the Bob and Barbara Williams Foundation.

“I am honored by what Bob and Barbara have done and am pleased that future generations of engineering students will benefit from their generosity,” Trani said.

“Barbara and I wanted to do something special to serve as a lasting tribute to Dr. Trani’s legacy at VCU,” Williams said. “His leadership and creativity have set a standard of excellence at the School of Engineering which we hope to extend through two new Leadership Scholarships from our Family Foundation Program.”

Williams, former chairman of James River Corporation, was among the corporate leaders who helped established the School of Engineering at VCU in 1996.