News Releases

$100,000 Gift Supports Careers that Make a Difference

May 18, 2006

The education of technology-based professionals received a boost this spring thanks to the support that the Scarborough-based engineering firm of Neill and Gunter has provided to USM's School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (ASET).

The firm's gift of $100,000 has resulted in the naming of the Neill and Gunter Computer-Aided Design Laboratory in ASET's John Mitchell Center. The Mitchell Center, located on USM's Gorham campus, has been expanded to include labs and related facilities needed to provide educational programming in support of the state's manufacturing, construction, electronics, and information technology industries.

The Neill and Gunter Computer-Aided Design Laboratory features computer-based hardware and software used to create two- and three-dimensional designs for animated presentations, production drawings, and physical prototypes. The laboratory contains 20 networked computers, video projection hardware and software, a printer, a wide-format plotter, and a rapid prototyping machine. The latter device allows a computer-based design to be automatically built into a functional three-dimensional prototype.

"With ever-changing technologies and tools of the trades, collaborations with industrial partners is a way of life in ASET," said Dean John Wright. "Neill and Gunter is a premier engineering firm in the state of Maine, and we are proud to have a strong association with them."

"Our support and involvement with the University to create this laboratory is just one way of supporting the field of engineering," said William Shelley, president of Neill and Gunter. "We look forward to seeing great work from these students as they progress into all disciplines of engineering."

Neill and Gunter (http://www.neillandgunter.com) is a multi-disciplined, full-service engineering design firm powered by more than 550 engineers and technical staff in 10 offices throughout the United States and Canada. Neill and Gunter has an established reputation of successful projects in the industrial, manufacturing, government, and commercial business sectors.

For information on USM degree programs in applied medical sciences, computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering, environmental science, industrial technology and technology education, contact the ASET Office of the Dean at 207-780-5585, or visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/aset/.

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