Prescott Campus Alumnus to Match Donations to Doryland Aerospace Engineering Endowment
The endowment will fund educational opportunities for both current and future aerospace engineering students.
In celebration of National Engineers Week, Pantelis Vassiliou (’86, PC) has established the Nancy and Tracy Doryland Aerospace Engineering Faculty Support Endowment at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus. The endowment will fund educational opportunities for both current and future aerospace engineering students.
“This gift will help us maintain and improve a world-class undergraduate wind tunnel facility and enable our students and faculty to achieve even greater advances in aerospace education and undergraduate research,” said Mark Sensmeier, chair of the department of aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus.
An aerospace engineering graduate, Vassiliou has further offered to match any gift given by others to the endowment — up to a total of $50,000 a year over the next three years.
This gift will help us maintain and improve a world-class undergraduate wind tunnel facility and enable our students and faculty to achieve even greater advances in aerospace education and undergraduate research.
Vassiliou's gift was inspired by the Dorylands' dedication to generations of Embry-Riddle students.
“The Dorylands became surrogate parents for many Embry-Riddle students,” explained Peg Billson (’84, PC). “Their guidance and stability made a difference to generations of aspiring engineers as they became productive citizens. The Dorylands continue to be very special people in the lives of those lucky students whom they have mentored.”
Vassiliou's gift comes on the heels of the Feb. 20, 2018, rededication of the Nancy and Tracy Doryland Wind Tunnel, which kicked off National Engineers Week activities at the Prescott Campus. Previously, the wind tunnel was named solely for Professor Emeritus Tracy Doryland. The wind tunnel was renamed to acknowledge Nancy's contributions to the campus and its students, as well.
“We had [students] over for dinner, and we had them over for all kinds of stuff, because that’s just what we felt we should do,” Tracy said. “It was a really small campus, very personal — and by the time they graduated, most of these kids that you met were my friends. And still are.”
In light of Vassiliou's’ generosity, Embry-Riddle is asking alumni to join in this opportunity to honor the Dorylands' legacy at Embry-Riddle.
"You can double the impact of your tax-deductible contribution, thanks to Pantelis' offer to match contributions to the endowment. This is an unprecedented opportunity to put our generosity to work to benefit future aerospace engineers at the Prescott Campus," said Steve Bobinsky, executive director of development.
Furthermore, many employers sponsor matching gift programs that match any charitable contributions made by their employees. When making a gift to Embry-Riddle, please check with your employer to see if a matching gift is also available.