University Park, Pa. -- Penn State named The Dow Chemical Co. its “Corporate Partner of the Year” on Friday, Nov. 5, at the University’s Board of Trustees meeting at the Nittany Lion Inn. Penn State President Graham Spanier presented the award to Dow in celebration of the company’s longstanding philanthropic commitment to the University.
“Dow Chemical’s exemplary support of Penn State has touched an enormous variety of programs and initiatives at the University and I look forward to growing this mutually beneficial relationship,” said Spanier.
The Dow Chemical Co., based in Midland, Mich., is a multinational corporation manufacturing a diverse array of products in the fields of science and technology. In 2008, the company acquired the Philadelphia-based Rohm and Haas, a move which brought Dow into Pennsylvania and into advanced materials, one of Penn State’s strengths.
Dow Chemical has provided support for a number of programs at Penn State, but the company's most generous contributions were made to the Department of Chemical Engineering. In 2006, the company donated $2 million to establish the the Dow Chemical Co. and Larry Duda Excellence in Chemical Engineering Fund, in honor of the late Larry Duda, former professor and department head of Chemical Engineering. At the time, this was the largest corporate endowment ever created at Penn State. Andrew Zydney, current department head and Walter L. Robb chair and professor of chemical engineering, aided in the presentation of the award Friday.
“Dow has made a tremendous impact on the Department of Chemical Engineering. Their resources have supported our research and have helped us offer educational and professional development opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students,” said Zydney. “II can think of no organization that is more deserving of the Corporate Partner of the Year Award than the Dow Chemical Co.”
In addition to their support of Chemical Engineering, Dow has supported other areas within the Colleges of Engineering and Agriculture as well as the Smeal College of Business. About 350 Penn State alumni currently are employed by Dow.
Jerome Peribere accepted the award on behalf of Dow Chemical. "It is a great honor for Dow to be recognized in this way by the University. The talented graduates speak volumes about the quality of the Penn State programs. Over our decades-long relationship, we have grown together and found we share important values. I look forward to continued strong links between Dow and Penn State," he said.
Former Corporate Partners of the Year include Boeing, Highmark, PNC, Barnes and Noble, Lockheed Martin and Bank of America.