April 27, 2006

From News Services, NC State University

NC State University Celebrates $10 Million Gift from Alumnus


  — Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering First Named Department at University

Fitts

At a naming ceremony held today, North Carolina State University’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering officially became the first named academic department in the university’s history, in recognition of a $10 million endowment given by alumnus Edward P. Fitts. This commitment is the largest gift ever received by the College of Engineering from an individual donor and the largest endowed gift to academics in NC State University’s history.

The event took place at the RBC Center Arena Club; NC State Engineering Foundation was host. Chancellor James L. Oblinger was joined by members of the Engineering Board of Directors, state legislators, faculty and friends to thank Fitts and to unveil a new name and logo for the department.

Fitts, a native of Lillington, N.C., graduated from NC State in 1961 and resides in Exton, Pa. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of Dopaco, a Pennsylvania-based global packaging company. Fitts is a long-time supporter of NC State.

“The education I received here at NC State has always been the cornerstone of my success and helped make me who and what I am today. I wanted to give back to the department to make sure it had the necessary resources to educate the industrial and systems engineers needed for the 21st century,” said Fitts.

Fitts’ approach to this endowment is unique. Fitts wanted to apply real-world business techniques he used to make his company successful to help the industrial and systems engineering department expand and grow. With the approval of the chancellor and support from the faculty, Fitts helped create an advisory board of faculty and professionals to offer advice and support for the department in the coming years.

In 2001, Fitts was named Distinguished Engineering Alumnus for his achievements, and he devotes time to the college by serving on the NC State Engineering Foundation Board of Directors. His gifts to NC State include the Edward P. Fitts Scholarship established in 1999, the Edward P. Fitts Industrial Engineering Professorship established in 2002, and an unrestricted gift for the college in 2005.

“The College of Engineering continues to grow its national reputation, thanks in part to gifts like the one given by Ed Fitts,” Chancellor James L. Oblinger said. “In academics, being able to attract and maintain the highest caliber of faculty and graduate students directly impacts the ability to attract research grants. This gift will ensure that the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering will continue to be one of the nation’s best.”

“The College of Engineering is honored to receive a gift of such magnitude,” said Dr. Nino A. Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering. “Ed Fitts is an alumnus who continues to demonstrate his firm commitment to improving the quality of education offered at NC State. He is dedicated to demonstrating the strengths of our industrial engineering program, and through this gift, he offers new opportunities for even higher achievements by the department. Ed has been one of the college’s most devoted friends, and his leadership and vision are invaluable to us. This is truly a landmark event in our college’s history.”

Established in 1930, the Department of Industrial Engineering at NC State consistently ranks among the top 12 industrial engineering programs in the nation, and is the leader in the United States in the number of faculty members who are fellows of the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

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Media Contacts:
Jennifer Weston, Engineering Communications, 515-3848
Keith Nichols, News Services, 919/515-7159 



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