Newswise —

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science received a $750,000 gift from the GANGALS nonprofit Foundation, Inc. (GnF) to name the Lata and Shiva Gangal Global Innovation Hall in the Engineering East building (platinum LEED certified) on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. Last year, the Gangals also established a $500,000 gift for the “Gangal Family Endowed Scholarship Fund” to support talented students as they prepare for professional careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

In addition to these agreed gifts to the FAU Foundation, the Gangals directly award scholarships to FAU engineering graduate students. Their total gifts to FAU amounts to approximately $1.5 million.

The GnF recently was honored at a special reception in the College of Engineering and Computer Science on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. 

“We are so incredibly grateful for the Gangal family’s generosity and their continued support of Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science,” said Stella N. Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “The Lata and Shiva Gangal Global Innovation Hall will provide our students with an engaging environment that will foster learning, creativity and collaboration. This state-of-the-art hall also will serve as an ideal location to showcase student innovations and research achievements.” 

Shiva and Sneh Lata Gangal established their nonprofit foundation in 2014 in Coconut Creek. Shiva Gangal served as manager of large U.S. corporations from 1973 to 1983 and then as CEO of their 100 percent-owned Tri State Engineering & Management Company (1983 to 2001), an engineering design and construction corporation in West Virginia. He received his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, in 1957. Sneh Lata Gangal also served as secretary and treasurer of Tri State Engineering & Management Company from 1983 to 2001 and received her B.S. degree from Agra University in India. Their daughter, Anjali Gangal, is a vice president of Branch Banking & Trust Co. in Fort Lauderdale.

“We are extremely proud of our affiliation with Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and we are delighted to name the Global Innovation Hall,” said Shiva Gangal. “This recent gift is a continuation of our support to ensure that engineering students thrive in their environment and that the college’s programs continue to excel so that we can ensure a robust STEM workforce and knowledge base in South Florida and beyond.”

FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science offers 21 degree programs on the Boca Raton campus. Master’s degree programs include bioengineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. The College’s Ph.D. programs include computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. In addition, the college offers special master’s degree offerings including an M.S. in information technology and management; an M.S. in civil engineering with a minor in business; an M.S. in computer engineering and computer science with a minor in business; an M.S. in mechanical engineering with a minor in business; and an M.S. in ocean engineering with a minor in business.

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About the Gangal Family’s Nonprofit Foundation (GnF), Cultural Diversity Appreciation Scholarship/Grant Program:

The GnF, a 2014 FL registered Corporation, is self-funded by Lata & Shiva Gangal without any public donations. The Foundation awards scholarships to excel in college education and learning diverse cultures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in universities and provides research grants. By the end of 2018, the Foundation’s accrued donations, towards awarded scholarships, would be approximately $150,000. By the end January 2019, GnF has additionally committed a gift of $1.25 million to the FAU Foundation. GnF contemplates a donation budget of $2 million to meet its vision and goal.  

GnF fosters ‘Family Value’ for educational excellence and an appreciation/understanding of the diverse cultures’ contributions to the U.S. economy. Productivity in the U.S. increases thorough understanding of both of these qualities. It is supported by the Foundation’s financial contributions by awarding scholarships/grants. The awardees will not only benefit but may serve as an incentive for corporate and philanthropic participation. Each year, it reviews the awardees progress in education and diverse cultural understanding. Awardees are mentored in the techniques for career-success through ‘Navigating Workplace Relationship.’ Awardees are interviewed annually to ascertain educational excellence and understanding of diverse cultures.

About FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science:

Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science is committed to providing accessible and responsive programs of education and research recognized nationally for their high quality. Course offerings are presented on-campus, off-campus, and through distance learning in bioengineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering and ocean engineering. For more information about the college, please visit eng.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University:  Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visitfau.edu.