Alums Dennis and Susan Webb (\u201971 BS Materials Engineering and \u201974 BA Art History, respectively) have made a generous gift that will provide financial support to graduate students enrolled in the College, with a preference for those pursuing a degree in materials engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The $100,000 donation creates a fund that may be used for tuition, fellowships, assistantships, stipends, research, or any other purpose that furthers their education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making the gift was important to the Webbs, said Dennis, because of the couple\u2019s love of the city and the particular needs of UWM students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt relates back to something Chancellor Mone said, that Milwaukee needs UWM,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cIt\u2019s a community college and a lot of students are either not able to finish their whole degree or, after they graduate, they can’t go on to graduate school because they don’t have the money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Webbs have given to several other UWM causes, including support for the Panther Women\u2019s and Men\u2019s Basketball programs and backing for the UWM Research Foundation\u2019s WEDC Bridge Program. That program benefits UWM\u2019s entrepreneurs and their ventures with matching funds from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a board member of both the UWM Foundation and the UWM Research Foundation, Dennis Webb, who is also an entrepreneur, said he donated to the program with the aim of encouraging others to support it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wondered if people understand that the WEDC is going to match gifts up to $100,000?\u201d he said. \u201cAnd so, I decided that I\u2019d put my money where my mouth is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dennis is president and owner of Sage-Water, LLC, and operates a lab at the UWM Innovation Campus Building, where he enjoys working with UWM engineering students on research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previously, he spent the majority of his career at Badger Meter, retiring as a senior executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n