February 28, 2006 Source: University of New Brunswick - Saint John:
http://www.unb.ca/news/view.cgi?id=974 NEILL AND GUNTER DONATES $200,000 TO FORGING OUR FUTURES February 28, 2006
UNB Fredericton News Release: D608
Sandra Howland, Public Relations Officer, (506) 458-7968 Neill and Gunter, one of the foremost engineering consulting firms in Atlantic Canada, has made a donation of $200,000 in cash and in-kind services to the University of New Brunswick’s Forging our Futures Campaign. "Neill and Gunter and UNB have a history of partnership that goes back more than four decades," said John McLaughlin, UNB president and vice-chancellor. "The university has benefited from the expertise and services of one of New Brunswick’s premier consulting engineering firms. In return, Neill and Gunter has benefited from UNB’s research and from hiring our engineering graduates. With this gift we celebrate this special relationship that has done so much for UNB, for the company and for engineering." "We are proud to support UNB in this visionary campaign – an important step towards securing the future of UNB’s programs and students," said Neill and Gunter Chairman R. D. Neill, a UNB graduate, a former member of the UNB Board of Governors and long-time supporter of the university. Roderick Nolan, vice chairman of Neill and Gunter, served nine years on the UNB Board of Governors, the last five as chairman. "UNB is a tremendous supporter of this region and it is important for those of us who have benefited from UNB’s excellence to return the gift through our collective support," said Dr. Nolan. The gift will include a financial commitment of $150,000 and a series of in-kind services, including engineering assistance in the installation of a 100 kW micro turbine in UNB Fredericton’s central heating plant. The turbine will be used to produce electricity for UNB, and the waste heat used for feed-water heating to its boilers. Liuchen Chang of UNB’s electrical engineering department will be conducting research on the development of a new power converter for the system. In addition, Neill and Gunter is providing a $10,000 financial grant to UNB’s Wood Science and Technology Center to advance research in the area of composite wood resins. The donation will be used to establish two scholarships, each valued at $2,500 annually. The Neill and Gunter Scholarships in Engineering will be awarded to one male and one female student on the Fredericton campus who have successfully completed the minimum requirements for the first year of the bachelor of science in engineering degree. Selection will be made based on scholastic achievement. Neill and Gunter has a long tradition of supporting UNB: financially, through technological co-operation and partnerships, and through the service of its employees. Neill and Gunter staff have shared their cutting-edge knowledge with UNB students through associate professorships and teaching assignments, and through the donation of time to student groups, such as the mentorship that has been provided for many years to chemical engineering student groups by senior Neill and Gunter process engineering staff. Neill and Gunter also continues to actively support the UNB Limerick Pulp and Paper center through collaborative research with Yonghao Ni on innovative developments in the industry. Recent achievements, implemented by industry regional pulp mills, have resulted in significant improvements in production while reducing costs and environmental risks. "Neill and Gunter is recognized as a leader in the engineering industry," said David Coleman, dean of the faculty of engineering. "With this gift, they have become a leader in supporting our students in the faculty of engineering. I welcome their support and thank them for their commitment to our students and faculty." Forging Our Futures is the most important development campaign in UNB’s more-than-200-year history. It will make strategic investments in students, faculty, facilities and programs. The campaign will strengthen UNB’s position as a national university that is fundamentally important to the economic, social and cultural well-being of the province, the region and the country. Officially launched in June of 2005, Forging Our Futures is the largest fundraising campaign in New Brunswick history. More information on the campaign can be found online at www.unbfutures.ca. Contact: John Suart Communications Manager Development and Donor Relations Direct: 506-458-7548 Mobile: 506-461-9944 Email: jsuart@unb.ca - 30 -
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