The Georgia Institute of Technology received a $100 million gift from Georgia Tech alumnus John Durstine. The donation, the largest in school history, is dedicated to Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.

Durstine, who passed in February, graduated from Georgia Tech in 1957 with a degree in mechanical engineering before working for the Ford Motor Company. The historic donation will establish the John W. Durstine Endowment, which can be used in any capacity within the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, one of the nation’s largest mechanical engineering programs.

“I was very surprised but elated by the size of the donation,” Shreyes Melkote, chair of the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, said. “No one had an inkling of the size of the gift, and it was beyond anything we anticipated. Once the number sank in, I felt overwhelming gratitude and excitement for what it will mean for our students, faculty and the future of the Woodruff School.”

The Durstine Endowment is set aside for three main areas. First, it will strengthen the faculty excellence by providing endowed chairs, professorships and early-career support to help recruit and retain the best teachers and researchers.

“If I got the chance to attend Georgia Tech, I could be part of the projects that come out of this funding,” junior Joey Medina said. “That makes me excited for the possibility of what my future looks like.”

Second, it will fund innovation infrastructure and strategic differentiators such as new labs and interdisciplinary research spaces designed to keep Georgia Tech at the forefront of technological advancement.

“I’m planning to study mechanical engineering, specifically robotics,” senior Lela Mariolis said. “I want to go down and work in an academic kind of setting, like a lab or some sort of research in order to create more robots that are able to help the world and stuff. I’m really excited about this donation to improve the labs and workspaces.”

Third, it will enhance student experiences and programming, from expanding hands-on design opportunities to supporting student competitions that encourage creativity and teamwork.

“One thing is certain: every decision will be guided by the goal of maximizing impact for our students, our faculty and the Woodruff School as a whole,” Melkote said.

The Woodruff School, home to more than 110 faculty members and about 3,000 students, stands to benefit enormously from this infusion of resources, which Tech officials say will boost its national competitiveness and help sustain its reputation as a hub for innovation.

“This transformative gift by alumnus John Durstine will position the Woodruff School to become the most sought-after program in the country,” Melkote said. “With these resources, we can amplify faculty-led excellence in teaching, research and innovation; enhance experiential learning opportunities for students in and out of the classroom and expand cutting-edge instructional programs that prepare the next generation of engineering leaders.”

After Durstine’s years at Tech, he built a career at Ford that reflected the power of engineering education to transform lives. Now, his estate will ensure that future students can walk a similar path with even greater resources behind them.

Institute President Angel Cabrera called the bequest an act of “historic generosity” and “deeply inspiring,” underscoring that the funds will strengthen the university for generations to come. The Durstine bequest doubles the scale of any single donor’s contribution in Tech’s history, cementing its place as a landmark moment in the Institute’s philanthropic record.

“When alumni give big donations, it can help fund projects and experiments that students get to experience, which is a big deal,” Medina said. “Paying for college is a big deal, so hopefully this donation can help fund scholarships for students like me.”

Melkote believes the endowment will create ripple effects that extend beyond campus. By elevating the Woodruff School, the gift strengthens Georgia Tech’s position as a national hub for engineering and technology.

“As interim school chair, I hope that this historic gift inspires our faculty and students to think boldly and push boundaries in ways that create real solutions to society’s greatest challenges,” Melkote said. “The legacy I envision is one of lasting innovation where the Woodruff School is recognized not only for engineering excellence, but also for shaping leaders who transform industries and communities worldwide.”

The sheer scale of the Durstine Endowment has drawn national attention– not only because it is the largest single gift in Georgia Tech’s history, but also because it reflects a broader trend in higher education philanthropy. While several universities have received nine-figure donations in recent years, it is rare for a public institution like Georgia Tech to secure a bequest of this size from an individual alumnus.

Endowments of this magnitude also serve as powerful recruitment tools. When faculty and students evaluate institutions, they not only look at rankings but also at resources. With this gift, Georgia Tech reinforces its commitment to maintaining world-class facilities and attracting top-tier talent to its school.

“Mr. Durstine’s generosity reflects his deep appreciation for the role Georgia Tech played in shaping his career,” Melkote said. “He wanted to ensure that future generations of students have even greater opportunities to learn, discover and achieve. His gift is both a tribute to his own journey and an investment in the limitless potential of those students who will follow.”