The University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science has landed a substantial $10 million estate gift, courtesy of alumni Ray Brooks, a 1983 graduate, and his wife, Connie Brooks, providing a financial boost that promises to assist countless students in their academic pursuits, as detailed in a recent announcement from the institution. The Connie and Ray Brooks Scholarship Fund, first incepted with a considerable five-figure sum back in 2018, is set to provide over a hundred scholarships yearly, underlining UC's commitment to fostering the next wave of engineering leadership.
In recognition of the transformative education he received from UC's co-op program which allowed him to graduate debt-free and pursue a successful 43-year career with Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Ray Brooks has expressed his gratitude, "I was fortunate that my co-op employer, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, where I started in 1979, is the same company I retired from in 2022," according to UC News, he acknowledged that education played a pivotal role in his life trajectory, and now he wishes to pay that forward to current and future students. Ray and Connie's philanthropic efforts extend beyond scholarship funds, with them having previously endowed the Ray and Connie Brooks Professorship in Sustainability and Renewable Energy in 2022, reinforcing their commitment to UC's educational ethos and sustainability efforts.
"I like the Maya Angelou quote, 'To those who are given much, much is expected,'" Ray shared in his philosophy on giving, as reported by the University of Cincinnati, stressing the importance of utilizing one's means to support others – a sentiment echoed by UC President Neville G. Pinto who expressed his profound gratitude for the Brooks' scholarship gift, "I'm profoundly grateful for the Brooks' incredible scholarship gift and the many lives their generosity will transform," said President Pinto.
The endowment aims to undergird not only recruitment but also retention at the College of Engineering and Applied Science, which currently boasts over 7,000 students and anticipates a 5% annual growth, scholarships are integral to attracting the nation's brightest minds and maintaining student momentum beyond their sophomore year when they can start benefiting from co-op earnings, the Brooks' contribution is thus seen as instrumental in energizing the university's ability to serve as a regional and national talent engine and innovation incubator. "Ray is tremendously invested in our students and their success," declared John "Marty" Emmert, PhD, interim dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Science, underscoring the enduring legacy that the Brooks' philanthropy will imprint upon the institution, according to UC News.
Married for over three decades and parents to two sons, the Brooks' life journey has been punctuated by moves across the United States, a journey in tandem with Ray's career at various Marathon refineries, and in retirement, Ray continues to contribute through consultancy work and as an adjunct professor, reaffirming his lasting bond with the University of Cincinnati.
