College of Engineering News

Family Gifts a Surprising Tribute to Retiring Professor Karnopp

Posted on: April 13, 2012

Glenn and Bettina Duval of Santa Monica decided to surprise Professor Dean Karnopp at his retirement party. They made a gift of $100,000 to endow a graduate fellowship in his name, and made a surprise announcement in front of family and friends.

“I was very surprised and honored by their generosity,” remarked Emeriti Professor Karnopp after the party. “It came as a complete shock.”

The Dean Karnopp Endowed Fellowship will provide annual support for Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering students who focus on mechanical or systems dynamics. These are research areas that Professor Karnopp cared deeply about during his forty-plus years in the College of Engineering. The first recipient of the Karnopp Fellowship is Travis Schraeder.

A tribute or memorial gift like the Duvals’ can help perpetuate the values and ideals that guided someone’s life or career. Beyond the important action of honoring a significant person, such as Emeriti Professor Karnopp, these fitting tributes assist the College of Engineering in providing a superior educational experience for generations to come.

More information on Giving to the College of Engineering:
http://engineering.ucdavis.edu/about/invest/index.html