Rose-Hulman establishes women’s scholarship fund
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is establishing a scholarship fund support women students thanks to a $500,000 donation from Cindy Thomas Kalkomey and Kurt Kalkomey. The Kalkomeys say the donation was made in memory of Cindy’s father and late alumnus, Charles “Ted” Thomas.
Rose-Hulman Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steve Brady says the funds will further support the school’s efforts to diversify STEM education.
Rose-Hulman became a coeducational institution in 1995. The school says it has since worked to add summer programs to introduce high school girls to STEM fields, including a new Rose Power program designed for girls who have completed their freshman year in high school.
“My dad must have received an outstanding engineering education at Rose, because he was always able to explain to me how something worked,” said Cindy Thomas Kalkomey.
“Cindy and Kurt have made a transformational gift that’s helping fuel the next generation of world-changers,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert Coons. “Our students are getting to experience the best in STEM education because of these philanthropic gifts. Through more donor-supported scholarships, even more students will be impacted in the future.”
Ted Thomas graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1943. He served in the U.S. military as a first and second lieutenant in the 148th battalion of combat engineers, as well as captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-53.
Thomas spent 28 years as an electrical engineer with Texas Instruments before retiring in 1986.
