February 14, 2003

USA Alumni Establish Endowed Scholarship in Engineering

A gift from two University of South Alabama alumni will be used for endowed scholarships for students in USA's College of Engineering.

The couple's $10,000 gift will establish the Reece and Rose Miller Endowed Scholarship in Engineering. The University will match the gift, bringing the total endowment to $20,000 over the next five years.

The endowment provides for a $1,000 annual scholarship to an undergraduate student in any of the College of Engineering's five disciplines-chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical. The scholarships will be awarded based on academic performance and financial need.

For the past three years, the Millers have provided an engineering student each with a cash scholarship. The new endowment is an outgrowth of the family's history of giving and will establish perpetual scholarship support.

"It is particularly gratifying when alumni give back to the University," USA President Gordon Moulton said. "It is the most sincere indication of the impact that the University has on them both personally and professionally."

Reece is a 1975 electrical engineering graduate who has served as electrical engineer for the Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for more than 22 years. He is also a member of the Society of American Military Engineers. Reece's wife, Rose, is a 1974 marketing graduate.

The Miller's son, William, is also an alumnus. He completed his degree in chemical engineering in 2002 and works on the former USS Shadwell in Mobile, where he's involved in Naval fire safety research.

"It is exciting to see that the Millers recognize that their education at the University of South Alabama is of such a quality that they want to help others share that experience," said Dr. Keith Harrison, professor and chair of chemical engineering, and interim dean of the College of Engineering. "The College of Engineering is most appreciative of their generosity in establishing an endowment scholarship for future engineering students."

Reece said the University's College of Engineering has provided him with an outstanding education that continues to benefit his family, and he urges other alumni to step forward with their support.

"When I look at what the last 28 years have afforded me and my family in terms of income versus the amount of the endowment, our contribution is very minimal."

"I would love to see my fellow engineering alumni either support this endowment to help it grow or to generate their own scholarship endowments."

USA's College of Engineering currently enrolls nearly 900 students in its five disciplines of study and has graduated more than 2,800 alumni. Now in its 40th year of service, USA has more than 50,000 alumni.

For more information on supporting USA, contact the University's Office of Development at 460-7616 or 460-7084.