Electrical, computer engineering scholarships funded by Kao family

Recognized for its strong engineering program and reputation, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was selected by Garmin International Inc. of Olathe, Kan., to participate in the company's scholarship and training program launched this year.

A charitable foundation established by Dr. Min H. Kao, co-founder and CEO of Garmin International, sponsors the Garmin Electrical and Computer Engineering Educational Initiative. The program is designed to help keep the United States competitive in an increasingly technological society by preparing future engineers.

The University of Nebraska Foundation received a commitment of $200,000 from the Kao Family Foundation to benefit UNL students. Beginning in the fall of 2008, the Garmin scholarships will fund eight $5,000 scholarships per year. The scholarships will benefit five electrical engineering and three computer engineering students each year at UNL.

Scholarship recipients who are juniors or seniors will also be given first consideration for one of more than 75 annual paid internship opportunities at Garmin. Housing and health insurance will be provided, and the total package, including the scholarship, is estimated to be worth up to $20,000 per year for each recipient.

Garmin International Inc. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. group of companies, which designs and manufactures navigation, communication and information devices -- most of which are enabled by GPS technology.

"It is my hope that this program will help attract the best and brightest students to the field of electrical and computer engineering," Kao said. "We believe that this combination of scholarship money and a hands-on experience at one of the world's premier electronics design and manufacturing companies will inspire college students to commit to an engineering career."

David H. Allen, dean of the UNL College of Engineering, expressed his gratitude to the Kao family and Garmin International.

"This scholarship program will help several deserving students achieve their academic dreams," Allen said. "The University of Nebraska is committed to providing the next generation of leaders for our country, and donations like this are essential in realizing this goal."

The Kao Family Foundation committed a total of $10 million for the education initiative, which will fund 100 scholarships each year at seven select universities, including UNL, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Rolla, Iowa State University and Oklahoma State University.

Among the reasons the Kao Family Foundation and Garmin International teamed up to create the initiative is the expected large increase in the demand for electrical and computer engineering expertise over the next decade. This is largely due to the rapid growth of a technology-based society -- a situation also affected by the retirement of many engineers of the baby boom generation.

The University of Nebraska Foundation (www.nufoundation.org) is an independent, nonprofit organization that has raised private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for more than 70 years. Last year, more than $87 million was provided for students, faculty, academic programs, research and campus capital improvements.

CONTACTS: Robb Crouch, Director of Public Relations, NU Foundation, (402) 458-1142 or 304-3085

Ted Gartner or Jessica Myers, Garmin International Inc., (913) 397-8200