Edwin and Barbara Zimmermann

Many grandparents are thrilled to see their grandchildren go off the college. Edwin and Barbara Zimmermann are no exception. That experience sparked their desire to help students studying mechanical engineering at NDSU.

They attended NDSU long before they became grandparents. They know a college education can be life changing and want to help students achieve their goals.

Edwin grew up in Casselton, North Dakota, and Barbara Vennerstrom lived in Chicago. They each moved to Fargo in the late 1940s. They attended the same high school but did not meet until their college years at a wedding. Edwin, the best man, and Barbara, the maid of honor, started dating soon after.

Affordable tuition coupled with the ability to save money by living at home made NDSU the logical choice for both Edwin and Barbara. He discovered he had an aptitude for mechanical engineering, while Barbara wanted to study home economics with an emphasis on food and nutrition.

"NDSU did a good job in preparing me for my career," Edwin said. "The academic work was certainly what was needed to get a job in mechanical engineering and the extracurricular activities helped my organizational skills. The whole college experience was enjoyable and worthwhile. I learned a lot and was ready to go to the next stage of life."

Following Edwin's graduation, the two married and moved to Michigan, where Edwin began work at Chrysler. The company offered a co-op program in which Edwin could earn a master's of automotive engineering while working. Barbara, who was a year younger than Edwin, completed her bachelor's degree in home economics at Wayne State University in Detroit. Barbara used those skills as a stay-at-home mom, raising four children and doing volunteer work.

Edwin built his career in the field of transmission and engine manufacturing. Nearly 40 years later, he had risen to executive vice president of New Venture Gear, a joint venture of Chrysler and General Motors.

The Zimmermanns wanted to give something back to society.

"We talked about a good way to do it, and came to the conclusion that we wanted to help intelligent, hard-working students with financial need to get an education in mechanical engineering," Edwin said. "Good for students. Good for our country."

Edwin's career took them away from North Dakota, but the Zimmermanns always felt a connection to NDSU, with Barbara fondly remembering her high school and college years in Fargo. "I was always aware of the sense of pride and professionalism the Home Ec faculty instilled in us during those years," Barbara said. In addition, Edwin's parents, sister and brother-in-law are NDSU graduates.

In 2015, Edwin and Barbara established an endowment to provide competitive scholarships based on academic achievement for NDSU mechanical engineering students, with preference given on the basis of financial need. Their $1 million gift was matched with $500,000 from state funds through the Higher Education Challenge Grant. Each year, five juniors and five seniors will each receive approximately a $5,000 scholarship. And those receiving the scholarship as juniors are eligible as seniors if they continue to meet the criteria.

These scholarships meet an important need not only for students, but also for NDSU. The Mechanical Engineering Department has seen a dramatic increase of undergraduate enrollment and the endowment helps increase scholarships to support the students.

NDSU has increased enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students to meet the workforce needs of the region. Mechanical engineering graduates are in high demand throughout the state with companies such as John Deere, Doosan and Bobcat Co. and Basin Electric Cooperative, in addition to many smaller companies that are developing innovative technologies that benefit the state's economy.

Edwin and Barbara are helping students in the mechanical engineering program achieve their dreams and create solutions to real-life problems.