Gift Report:
Young alumnus makes a difference
through unrestricted donations
Scott Eade (large image) |
Scott Eade (BSECE ’98) clearly remembers his days in the marching band and his nights in Wendt Library, studying as an undergraduate engineering student. He also remembers that his UW-Madison experiences helped shape his future, and he’s showing his gratitude as a donor early in his career.
Scott Eade (large image) |
A Cudahy, Wisconsin, native, Eade is a systems engineer senior staff at Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services–Civil Division, where he tests air traffic control software. Staff at Federal Aviation Administration en route centers direct airplanes cruising thousands of miles above ground. Those centers are supported by Lockheed Martin software, and Eade works closely with the FAA to integrate the software at the centers.
Though Eade currently is based in Washington, D.C., his heart is still in the Badger state. Among the ways he stays connected to UW-Madison is as a donor to the College of Engineering Fund for Excellence, which provides unrestricted resources for a variety of needs within the college. Lockheed Martin matches his gifts.
Eade, who earned his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins after graduating from UW-Madison, says his undergraduate years were filled with friends, political activism and music, in addition to his classes. “It was an amazing time,” he says. “I want to help in any way I can to provide that for others, especially engineering students.”
That openness to help in whatever way possible is important for the College of Engineering, says Gerald Kulcinski, college associate dean for research. Unrestricted funds are used in a variety of ways, including bridge-funding for faculty and graduate students in case government research contracts end prematurely or to cover a one- to two-month gap between existing research contracts. Unrestricted funds also support internal research and development at the university, enabling faculty to gather initial data for ideas they then submit as grant proposals.
Undergraduates themselves also directly benefit from unrestricted funds, which allow faculty to hire students to work in laboratories. “Ten, 20 years ago, almost all research was done by faculty, graduate students and staff scientists,” says Kulcinski. “Now we’re finding undergraduates also make real contributions to labs, which is turning out very well for both the research and for the students who are developing important skills.”
Eade understands the importance of his unrestricted gifts to the university, and he encourages others in a position to give to do so. “Think about the education you received and the experiences you had. It’s important to give other people the same opportunities you had—and even if it’s not much, anything helps,” he says. “UW-Madison was a huge part of my life. I can’t give back enough for what the university did for me.”