University of Cincinnati graduate gives $10 million for engineering scholarship

A significant boost has been made to a University of Cincinnati scholarship fund that nurtures the next generation of engineers, with a $10 million estate donation from alum Ray Brooks and his wife, Connie Brooks.

Ray Brooks, who graduated in 1983 from UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, and his wife first established a scholarship at UC in 2018 with a smaller five-figure contribution. The recent donation dramatically increases the funds capacity, enabling support for more than 100 engineering students annually. This expansion strengthens UC's recruitment and retention efforts while maintaining a steady pipeline of talent for the engineering industry.

The college currently enrolls over 7,000 students and anticipates a 5% growth each year. Special emphasis is placed on retaining students through their second year, when they can gain practical, paid experience and help cover tuition costs via UCs cooperative education (co-op) program.

This same co-op opportunity allowed Ray Brooks to complete his UC education debt-free. Growing up as one of seven children in Sidney, Ohio, Brooks recalled that his parents emphasized the importance of higher education despite limited financial resources.

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, Brooks said. Its important to give back, and scholarships provide a way to make a meaningful impact for students from backgrounds like mine.

Brooks has been an active supporter of UC, serving on the College of Engineering and Applied Science Advisory Council for nearly ten years. In 2022, the couple also funded the Ray and Connie Brooks Professorship in Sustainability and Renewable Energy.

UC President Neville G. Pinto remarked, Ray and Connies commitment to UC and our students is remarkable. Their generosity will have a lasting effect on countless lives.

Author: Aiden Foster