LANSING – With a rising demand for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, the Michigan State University College of Engineering will have no problem putting a $2.5 million gift from Dave and Denise Lamp to good use.

The Lamps gave the money to MSU to support STEM scholarships and research in the Department of Chemical and Materials Science. David Lamp said he wanted to give back to college that gave him so much, while contributing to STEM education in a positive way.

?I credit a good deal of my professional and business success to my academic experience at Michigan State University,? said David Lamp, who earned a bachelor?s degree in chemical engineering from MSU in 1980. ?We are pleased to further the mission of the department and enhance excellence in the MSU College of Engineering.?

The college has decided to use $2 million to establish the ?David L. and Denise M. Lamp Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering? and the balance to enhance the existing David L. and Denise M. Lamp Engineers of Tomorrow Endowed Scholarship Fund for undergraduates scholarship fund from previous generosity of the Lamp Family.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said she is so grateful to the Lamps for their extraordinary leadership and generosity.

?We believe we can accelerate our impact at MSU and beyond by establishing additional endowed chairs and scholarships,? Simon said. ?Endowed chairs enable us to build a base of highly regarded faculty who are considered leaders in research and teaching. There is a ripple effect as these stellar faculty members help us to attract the brightest students.?

Dave Lamp has used his MSU education to forge 34 years of experience in the petroleum-refining industry, including technical, operations, commercial and senior management endeavors. In March, he was appointed CEO and president of Northern Tier Energy. He previously served as the senior vice president and chief operating officer for HollyFrontier Corp., and held a variety of senior management positions with HollyFrontier since 2004.

The money will help to continue to grow innovation among the faculty and students. Martin Hawley, chairperson of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, said the addition of the Lamp Endowed Chair will expand scientific initiatives in the department, noting that three faculty in the department received Faculty Early Career Development awards in 2013 from the National Science Foundation.

The Lamp endowments will be managed by MSU?s Office of Investments and Financial Management. Different from other gifts, the total amount of the endowment is invested and a portion of the income will be available for spending each year while the remainder will be reinvested to grow the fund and safeguard against inflation. This is a gift that will ?Stem? new roots for the future leaders of STEM careers by giving them financial assistance to pursue a growing field.

Associate Editor Nicole Johnson leads MITechNews.Com?s efforts to foster STEM education, as well as provides coverage for her fellow women in computing. If you have a story idea for Nicole, email [email protected]