Case Institute of Technology alumnus supports Case School of Engineering student programs with $500,000 gift
November 4, 2005 | For more information: Laura M. Massie (216)-368-4442
David A. Hartman, a 1958 alumnus of the Case Institute of Technology and former chairman and CEO of Hartland Bank, N.A., in Austin, Tex., has donated $500,000 to the Case School of Engineering to establish an endowment fund in support of the school's Office of Engineering Student Programs (OESP), which pursues and organizes cooperative and international experiential learning opportunities for engineering students at Case Western Reserve University.
The gift comes to Case at a time when the university is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Case School of Applied Science, the distinguished predecessor of the Case Institute of Technology (CIT) and Case School of Engineering.
Hartman, a cum laude graduate of CIT with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, pursued successful careers as a business entrepreneur in manufacturing and is a highly-regarded economic public policy analyst in Texas. He currently serves as chairman of the Lone Star Foundation, an Austin-based think tank devoted to providing the resources and research needed for the development of public policy based on "traditional Texas values of family, freedom, free enterprise and the Constitution." Hartman also is a contributing editor to the Lone Star Report, the foundation's weekly newsletter which focuses on Texas politics and government. He also is an MBA graduate of distinction from Harvard University's Graduate School of Business.
"We are grateful for the support of thoughtful and compassionate alumni donors like David Hartman," said Robert F. Savinell, dean and George S. Dively Professor of Engineering. "Giving students real-world, practical experience in the engineering field was the driving force behind Mr. Hartman's generous gift. He is a tireless proponent of education and he's especially interested in the cooperative education programs Case provides at both the undergraduate and graduate levels."
The goals of the Office of Engineering Student Programs are to help Case students become successful in their fields of study by providing a professional experience, to work with faculty to assess academic readiness, and to build community and university partnerships. The OESP is currently comprised of five programs including two cooperative education offerings. Other programs involve global exchange for the international experience, research experiences for engineering undergraduates and an external assessment program. In addition, because of gifts like Hartman's, the school is able to offer co-curricular activities that further enhance engineering coursework. These activities include entrepreneurial and business-related programs, creative output such as national engineering competitions, and community and service opportunities.
The $500,000 gift is not the first that Hartman and his wife, Claudette, have given to Case. In 2003, the Hartmans contributed $200,000 to OESP to help further develop programs designed to augment the school's experiential learning opportunities. They also have donated funds for scholarships in their home state of Texas to help students who are committed to teaching in secondary school to gain access to higher education.
Hartman has long been active in Texas state politics and public service. He served on former Gov. Bill Clements' Special Committee on the Organization of State Agencies as chairman of the General Government Services and Overall Structure of Government subcommittees. He was the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 1994, but was narrowly defeated in the general election. In 1996, he served as chairman of the Policy Group and Victory '96 finance chairman for the Republican Party of Texas.
Hartman also has been involved in Texas fiscal studies, as well as federal studies on welfare and taxation. He has authored numerous studies and articles published by the Cato Institute, Family in America and the Texas Republic.
When he donated his original gift of $200,000 to OESP in 2003, Hartman said that when he attended, "What made Case stand out among engineering schools was a close relationship between theoretical knowledge and the real world knowledge of industry. The co-op program and the programs of the Engineering Student Programs office continue this legacy."
About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826
and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western
Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research,
service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally
recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering,
Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.
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