A UF alumnus gave $1.5 million to a UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering program to teach students leadership skills.
William Wadsworth, who graduated from the UF in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, signed a check for the donation in February. He said he wanted to give back to the university by donating to the college’s Engineering Leadership Institute.
The institute, which has been running for six years, provides students with special classes in leadership and communications, said Wadsworth, the former vice president of the engineering company HDR Inc.
“It’s a very focused institute within the College of Engineering, to give the engineering students something different from purely technical know-how,” he said.
Franklin Hagenbeck, the institute’s director, said since 2010, about 2,100 students have been enrolled in classes through the institute.
“It’s all about our students gaining and understanding a perspective of leadership within an engineering framework,” Hagenbeck said.
He said the money donated by Wadsworth will be used for scholarships, sending students to conferences and expanding the institute.
“The fact (Wadsworth) was willing to pay back, if you will, both to the University of Florida and the College of Engineering in particular speaks volumes about the kind of person he is,” Hagenbeck said.
The largest donation made to the college came from UF alumnus Herbert Wertheim, who donated $50 million and for whom the college is named
Wadsworth said he also wanted to donate because he thinks the institute teaches future engineers valuable skills.
He said when his company hired engineers and scientists from universities, they had good technical skills but lacked communication skills.
“It’s kind of like taking the technical side of engineering and then adding to it how to get along with people, how to communicate ideas, how to work as a team,” he said.
