[The following was provided by the School of Computing & Engineering.]
A $59,000 gift from Burns & McDonnell and UMKC alumni who are employees of the engineering firm, is responsible for the new “student collaboration space” which was officially opened in Flarsheim Hall’s main, third floor entrance.
The “Student Collaboration Space,” named in honor of Burns & McDonnell, replaces a small, windowless classroom and serves as a new entrance to the SCE’s Flarsheim Hall.
The area includes lounge chairs, big screen televisions and a table where students can plug in computers and other electronics.
SCE Dean Kevin Z. Truman said the Burns & McDonnell alumni offered their assistance, and the space will serve as a “gateway” to the school.
The Burns & McDonnell Foundation matched employee donations to create the gift for the space. Jim Hogan, a senior vice president in Burns & McDonnell’s Transmission and Distribution Division, said he helped organize the fund drive for UMKC because he understands the importance to Kansas City to have a thriving engineering school.
Hogan, a civil engineer who earned his bachelor’s degree at UMKC in 1984 and took classes at UMKC for a master’s in civil engineering that he earned in 1999, said giving engineering students a space of their own is a fitting contribution to help support the school’s growing stature.
