Steve and Donna McKinnis give back through a major planned gift to the College of Engineering dean’s excellence fund
Steve and Donna McKinnis honor the opportunities that were opened to Steve while a student in Kansas State University’s College of Engineering through a major planned gift to the College of Engineering dean’s excellence fund. Steve and Donna do not have children and their estate attorney recommended that K-State become their “child” to receive most of their inheritance.
“We hope this will provide someone with an engineering degree that may not have been able to afford it before,” McKinnis said.
Steve and his brother, Jim, attended K-State’s College of Engineering. Growing up on a small wheat farm inspired McKinnis to give to his alma mater, a land-grant university.
“Since K-State is known as family, we are carrying that forward one more level,” McKinnis said.
McKinnis says going to bad football games pre-Snyder years, cleaning the Union coffee hall, and listening to Jethro Tull on the jukebox in Aggieville are all memories he cherishes from K-State. He hopes his gift gives the opportunity for other students to create their own cherished memories.
“We are happy if we can make a difference in someone’s life,” McKinnis said. “This will be our legacy after we are gone.”
