Mike and Lynn Wiegers invest in naming the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Kansas State University
Mike and Lynn Wiegers of Baldwin City, Kansas, have invested in the naming of the Mike Wiegers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering at Kansas State University. At their June 19 meeting, the Kansas Board of Regents approved the naming of the department in Mike Wiegers’ honor.
This investment will empower the department to recruit and retain top faculty, support deserving students and provide flexible funding for department leaders to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
“Providing an outstanding engineering education is a competitive and vigorous endeavor, requiring investments to equip and train tomorrow’s leaders and innovators in this field,” said Don Gruenbacher, department head and associate professor. “Mike and Lynn understand this and have stepped forward with exceptional generosity to meet these needs. It’s fitting that the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will now bear the Wiegers name.”
Mike Wiegers earned his degree in electrical engineering in 1982 from Kansas State University and is now employed as vice president of consumer engineering at Garmin in Olathe, Kansas. In 2018, he received the K-State Alumni Association Alumni Fellow award. Mike serves on the College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, and both he and Lynn serve on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. The Wiegers’ philanthropic contributions include student scholarships and support of the Ike and Letty Evans Academic Success Center.
“We are honored to support K-State as it educates the next generation of engineering and technology professionals,” said Wiegers, whose giving was inspired in large part by the generosity of Garmin co-founder Dr. Min Kao to higher-education institutions. “Garmin is committed to helping create a highly skilled engineering workforce, which is vital to the future of Garmin, the state of Kansas and our nation.”
Wiegers, a K-State scholarship recipient himself, said he is humbled by the opportunity to help fund possibilities for students who otherwise might not have access to higher education.
“My education was made possible through the generosity of others who created K-State programs and scholarships, and I am forever grateful,” he said. “That is why Lynn and I want to pay it forward and we hope our department naming legacy gift will provide students with the best faculty and programs to enrich their education and inspire them to become the electrical and computer engineers that Kansas technology companies need.”
A gift of this magnitude is truly transformational for the college and the university.
“Mike and Lynn Wiegers personify the generosity of the K-State family,” said K-State President Richard Myers. “Their investment in the success of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering faculty, students and programs not only elevates the college but brings prestige to the university and helps propel K-State toward being nationally recognized as a top 50 public research university.”
As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance the K-State family. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success. Visit ksufoundation.org for more information.
