A Montana couple has endowed the McComish Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at South Dakota State University. The $5 million gift results in the university’s first endowed and named department, representing an exceptional and lasting investment.
Richard “Dick” and Karen McComish have fueled countless philanthropic efforts at the university over the past three decades. Both are graduates of the Class of 1975, and the gift to endow the department was donated in recognition of Dick’s degree in electrical engineering. Along with Karen’s degree in sociology, the premier education that the couple received at State positioned them to excel in the energy industry.
Through their work, Dick has witnessed firsthand the shortage of incoming graduates to fill the extensive gaps in the workforce. It’s the couple’s hope that their funding for the department will bolster recruitment and retention efforts.
Endowed funding ensures increased resources and opportunities for the department overall. The McComishes’ gift has created lasting support, enhancing the Jackrabbits experience for the many students in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. With their latest gift to SDSU, the couple wished to honor their alma mater and support the place that shaped their future careers.
