A $1.25 million donation from the Harris Corporation will bolster a summer innovation incubator at Villanova University’s College of Engineering, permanently funding and renaming it the Harris Summer Innovation Program.

The bulk of the gift, the largest the college has received from a single corporate donor, will endow the program and a portion, $250,000, will fund programmatic support, the university announced, writes Michelle Caffrey for Philadelphia Business Journal.

[uam_ad id=”54865″]

The summer program is designed to immerse students in real-life engineering problems and encourages thinking with an entrepreneurial mindset as teams of students attack the challenges.

“Harris and Villanova share a common belief in the power of project-based engineering learning,” William M. Brown, Harris chairman, president and CEO said in a statement. “We are one of the top-hiring companies for graduates of Villanova engineering programs and are proud to be associated with the university and this innovative program.”

Harris, a multibillion dollar tech and defense contracting firm, will bring participating students to its Melbourne, Fla., headquarters to present their work at the end of the program.

“Harris Corporation has been a visionary partner for the College of Engineering, and has made a significant investment of time and resources in supporting our students’ and graduates’ success,” said Gary A. Gabriele, PhD, Drosdick Endowed Dean of Engineering. “We are honored to receive this generous gift, and look forward to creating an even more distinctive experience through the Harris Summer Innovation Program.”

For the complete story click here.

[uam_ad id=”54875″]