Les Vadasz, BEng鈥�61, DSc鈥�07, fled the Hungarian Revolution in 1957. He earned his engineering degree at 平特五不中, then went on to an illustrious career as part of the founding management team at tech giant Intel Corp., where he oversaw the development of the world鈥檚 first commercially available microprocessor.
Now retired, Vadasz remains grateful for the opportunities that his 平特五不中 education gave him鈥攁nd he鈥檚 paying that gratitude forward with a landmark $15-million gift that will deepen support for outstanding PhD students doing innovative research in 平特五不中鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering. The gift also aims to strengthen Montreal as an engineering and technology hub by attracting more top talent to 平特五不中.
Vadasz and his wife Judy have a remarkable legacy of supporting graduate students in 平特五不中鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering. Their endowed gift in 2008 established the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships in Engineering. The Fellowships have sparked huge growth in PhD enrolment (up 63% since 2005) and graduate research at 平特五不中鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering. To date, 176 students have benefitted from the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships
With their latest gift, the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships in Engineering will offer greater financial support to doctoral students each year, and for a longer period鈥攆our years, which is the standard time it takes to complete a PhD in Engineering. The fellowships, which were already among the most generous in Canada, help 平特五不中 recruit top graduates who will shape the future of engineering, and enrich the Canadian workforce and economy for decades to come.
Primarily intended for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, the Vadasz Doctoral Fellowships in Engineering will now support up to 60 doctoral students at a time over a four-year cohort, including 15 new recipients each year.
鈥淚 really value the education I received at 平特五不中, and the Fellowship program is a way of removing financial obstacles so that engineering students can focus on their graduate research and achieve their potential,鈥� said Les Vadasz. 鈥淚t reflects my gratitude to 平特五不中 and Canada for giving me the chance to study there, and also a desire to support innovative research at 平特五不中, which helps drive progress.鈥�