Mechanical Engineering receives gift from GTI
March 18, 2019
A gift from GTI, a leading independent research, development, and training organization addressing global energy and environmental challenges, will soon support student leaders and an undergraduate seminar series in Mississippi State University’s mechanical engineering department.
Edward “Eddie” Johnston was the senior vice president of research and technology development at GTI. He attended Mississippi State in 1983 and 1984 and then again from 1988-1992.
The $250,000 donation is in memory of former Bagley College of Engineering student Eddie Johnston and will support the Edward “Eddie” Johnston Student Leadership Suite. Additionally, the gift will create an endowment to help fund the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Seminar Series, which was established in 2016.
“Eddie was a lifelong learner with immense drive, and he served as a role model and source of inspiration to many. He was extremely proud of being a Mississippi State alumnus and focused on paying things forward near the end of his life,” said David Carroll, President and CEO of GTI.
“Eddie spearheaded the effort to create this novel collaborative environment for student leaders, in addition to connecting students with energy industry experts through the Undergraduate Seminar Series.” Carroll added. “These engineering students will be tomorrow’s leaders, creating innovative new technologies that could help secure the world’s clean energy future. GTI is excited about the opportunity to introduce the next generation to a prosperous career that will benefit society at large.”
The new leadership suite will be a room in Carpenter Hall where mechanical engineering student leaders can have meetings, practice presentations, host visitors and potential collaborators and hold planning sessions for their respective student groups.
The Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Seminar Series hosts guest speakers that provide information to mechanical engineering students about different career paths in an effort to help those students set career goals.
“I am thankful to GTI for their generous support to create the Edward “Eddie” Johnston Mechanical Engineering Student Leadership Suite and sponsoring the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Seminar Series,” said Pedro Mago, head of the department of mechanical engineering. “We will forever be grateful to Eddie for his vision to provide this suite to our mechanical engineering student leaders. The support from GTI will have a strong impact on the quality of education for our mechanical engineering students.”
Johnston was the senior vice president of research and technology development at GTI. He attended Mississippi State in 1983 and 1984 and then again from 1988-1992.
The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at @msuengineering.
Mechanical Engineering is the largest academic department within the Bagley College of Engineering and the third largest department at Mississippi State. The department is well recognized nationally and internationally for its excellence in engineering education, research, scholarships, service and outreach.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
By Philip Allison