窪蹋厙惇勛圖

Landmark gift to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s Faculty of Engineering deepens support for doctoral students and graduate research

Prestigious Vadasz Scholars Program aims to attract top PhD students to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖

A landmark $15-million gift from 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 alumnus Les Vadasz, a founding member of Intel Corporation, and his wife Judy Vadasz, will enhance the prestigious doctoral fellowship program that bears their name in 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s Faculty of Engineering, deepening their support for outstanding PhD students who pursue innovative research at 窪蹋厙惇勛圖.

Their gift also aims to strengthen Montreal as an engineering and technology hub by attracting more top talent to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖.

Were deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift from Les and Judy Vadasz who have done so much to support our Faculty of Engineering, said 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier. Their remarkable generosity continues to open doors for talented graduate students every year, and at the same time, supports our commitment to research excellence and innovation as 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 heads into its third century.

The gift from the Vadasz Family Foundation builds on the couples remarkable legacy of supporting graduate students in 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s Faculty of Engineering. Their endowed gift in 2008 established the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships in Engineering. The Fellowships have sparked huge growth in PhD enrolment (up 63 per cent since 2005) and graduate research at 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s Faculty of Engineering. To date, 176 students have benefitted from the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships.

With their latest gift, the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships in Engineering will offer greater financial support to doctoral students each year, and for a longer period four years, which is the standard time it takes to complete a PhD in Engineering. The fellowships, which were already among the most generous in Canada, help 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 recruit top graduates who will shape the future of engineering, and enrich the Canadian workforce and economy for decades to come.

Primarily intended for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships in Engineering will now support up to 60 doctoral students at a time over a four-year cohort, including 15 new recipients each year.

Les Vadasz, 詁楚紳眶61, 嗨釦釵07, came to Montreal in 1957 as a refugee fleeing the Hungarian Revolution and earned his engineering degree at 窪蹋厙惇勛圖. He went on to an illustrious career in the United States, notably at tech giant Intel Corp., where he was part of its founding management team, and where he oversaw the development of the worlds first commercially available microprocessor. Despite the passage of time and distance, Vadasz has never forgotten his alma mater.

I really value the education I received at 窪蹋厙惇勛圖, and the Fellowship program is a way of removing financial obstacles so that engineering students can focus on their graduate research and achieve their potential, said Les Vadasz, who is now retired and lives in California. It reflects my gratitude to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 and Canada for giving me the chance to study there, and also a desire to support innovative research at 窪蹋厙惇勛圖, which helps drive progress.

The Fellowships create multiple benefits, said Jim Nicell, Dean of 窪蹋厙惇勛圖s Faculty of Engineering. They bring outstanding students to 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 who receive an excellent education, and help drive research in the Faculty. Doctoral students are required to make significant contributions in their area of research. And because theyre working on their PhD, theyre pushing the research agenda of the professors and University much further.

Media Relations Office:

Cynthia Lee | Media Relations | Relations avec les m矇dias | 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 | Universit矇 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 | 514-398-6754 |

University Advancement:

Derek Cassoff | Director of Communications | 窪蹋厙惇勛圖 | T 514.398.5459 | C 514.895.5250

Photo Credit
Owen Egan

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