INDIANAPOLIS -- The University of Indianapolis announced Tuesday that it received a $5 million donation from the Robert B. Annis Foundation to launch a new school of engineering.
Classes are set to begin at the Robert B. Annis School of Engineering this fall.
“We’ve not had many of these in our university’s history,” University of Indianapolis President Dr. Robert Manuel said of the donation. “This is truly a special one for us to gather.”
Annis was an Indiana inventor and engineer whose focus was on magnetics and demagnetizing solutions. He founded Greencastle-based R.B. Annis Instruments in the 1920s.
“For those of you not familiar with Mr. Annis, he was a remarkable inventor, businessman, scientist and mentor who influenced generations of students,” said R.B. Annis Educational Fund Trustee Dan Yates. “He dedicated his life to encouraging students to love science as much as he did.”
Annis died in 1999, but his generous spirit lives on in the Circle City. His foundation has made generous donations to the Indianapolis Public Library, Jameson camp and even the Indianapolis Zoo.
“He was a very humble man who would have shied away from all the fuss,” said Yates. “(He) would have really enjoyed being here.”
A scholarship in Annis’ late wife Miriam’s name has also helped 130 University of Indianapolis students over the past 20 years.
