Engineering alum donates $1 million to scholarships
Utah State University College of Engineering alum David G. Sant has donated $1 million to his existing general engineering scholarship endowment in the USU College of Engineering to support students studying in the college.
The scholarships will go to students who meet the qualifications and who are in need of financial assistance.
“I am trying to make sure that students who want to go to college can do so, without concern for their ability to pay for it,” Sant said.
After a career that started at IBM, Sant became a key contributor to the growth and evolution of the telecommunications industry from an analog-voice-only medium to a digital-based communications tool. Sant then followed his interests when he founded several start-up companies based in the telecommunications business.
“One of the outcomes of the legislative session this year is the continuation of the engineering initiative,” said USU President Stan L. Albrecht. “Our graduate numbers are up in the College of Engineering and we are seeing a great success story. The funds coming from the legislature and great friends like David Sant make the success possible.”
Sant grew up in Franklin County, Idaho, and graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering from USU. During his time at IBM, he continued his studies at Santa Clara University in California where he would earn an MBA.
Sant said USU treated him well as a student and a close relationship with the College of Engineering has remained since his graduation. He and his wife, Diann, recently donated nearly $4 million to support the construction of a new state-of-the-art engineering innovation laboratory building at USU.
Explaining his motivation, Sant said he was looking for a substantial way to give back to the community that shaped his life. He said there is no better way to do that than to support the institutions that equipped him for his career.
“This gift will make a dramatic impact in supporting both our current students and in recruiting more of the top students in the country,” said USU College of Engineering Dean Scott Hinton.
Sant and his wife have also established scholarships at Santa Clara University and San Jose State and provided funds for a library in Preston, Idaho.
“Mr. Sant’s scholarship helped me out a lot my freshman year,” said Ashley Kelly, a USU engineering senior from Franklin County, Idaho. “I actually came to USU to try and get on the softball team and when I didn’t make the cut, I was able to devote all my time to my studies. Being an engineering major is a lot of work, but it is worth it. The friendships I have made and the skills I have learned are irreplaceable.”
Sant believes the students are the future of USU’s College of Engineering. The college is in the position to achieve a world-class reputation, he said. He is happy to be associated with the college and Utah State University.
For more information on USU’s College of Engineering, visit www.engineering.usu.edu.