Bruce Walsh '60 has given a major boost to meeting a challenge from The Kresge Foundation.
Walsh, of Longmont, Colo., recently made a $103,775 gift to the College, saying, “It is essential for Union to keep its technology up to date, particularly for science and engineering students.”
In 1999 the foundation made a $500,000 challenge grant to Union. Half will be used to purchase laboratory equipment for science and engineering departments, and half will become part of a $1.25 million endowment for the maintenance and upgrading of the lab equipment.
The challenge to the College is to raise $1 million by this December for the endowment.
Walsh, who received his B.S. in electrical engineering, began designing and implementing computer systems in the 1960s. He was a cofounder of McData Corp., a leader in data center network switching solutions, and was principal architect at the company until he retired in 1997.
His gift is the largest to the Kresge challenge. He and his wife, Margo, have also endowed two scholarships in his parents' names, the Maurice C. Walsh Memorial Scholarship and the Ruth Walsh Memorial Scholarship. Preference is given to students in electrical engineering or computer systems engineering.
Those interested in helping meet the Kresge challenge can call 1-888-THE-IDOL, extension 6180, or e-mail zacekj@union.edu.