WSU Vancouver receives $20,000 grant from Verizon Foundation

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Verizon Foundation has granted $20,000 to the Washington State University Vancouver School of Engineering and Computer Science to upgrade equipment and technology in its Student Design and Innovation Center.

The center is the place where students conceive, design, build and present their senior capstone projects in conjunction with local industry sponsors. The gift will enable the school to purchase a new 3D printer setup, high-tech remote video conferencing and presentation equipment, and large storage lockers for student projects in progress. Most students would not otherwise have access to the tools and technology freely available to them at the center.

“We are extremely grateful to receive Verizon’s generous gift,” said Xinghui Zhao, academic director for the School of Engineering and Computer Science. “By providing funds to upgrade the Student Design and Innovation Center, Verizon is helping us create a well-designed, collaborative environment for our students to work on team projects, engage with industry partners and showcase their products. Verizon’s gift will greatly enhance the learning experience for our students.”

The improvements and technologies funded by the Verizon Foundation will strengthen experiential learning and will prepare students to be innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. By providing a platform for professional interaction with industry leaders, it helps ensure that WSU Vancouver engineering and computer science students have the opportunity to contribute their diverse talents to the local workforce.

About WSU Vancouver

As one of six campuses of the WSU system, WSU Vancouver offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. Both in person and online, the university provides affordable, high-quality baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities it serves. As the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington, WSU Vancouver helps drive economic growth through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations. 

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MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communication, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@wsu.edu