Tennessee Tech Tomorrow
Donor Recognition
J.W. and Lori Bruce
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Provost
Provost Lori Bruce and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering J.W. Bruce made their first gift to Tennessee Tech not long after joining the President's Cabinet and College of Engineering faculty, respectively. In addition to making their first gift to Tech, the Bruces also joined the President's Club, a giving society created nearly 40 years ago to recognize the many friends who loyally support the University. Now, they hope to inspire others to give back through the "I Heart Tech Students" faculty and staff giving campaign.
"We wish every Tennessee Tech employee would give through our faculty and staff giving campaign," they said. "The amount of the gift is not nearly as important as the act of giving. There is a saying, 'It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it.' When we give to Tennessee Tech, especially when we support student activities on campus, we are communicating to the students that what they are doing is important to us."
The Bruces say they enjoy working at Tennessee Tech because of the great team atmosphere and because of the students who keep them energized, push them to have fresh perspectives on all aspects of life, and inspire them to make the University the very best.
"Neither of my parents had the opportunity to go to college when they graduated high school," said Dr. Lori Bruce. "So when I was young, they stressed the importance of education and the belief that a university education could help you become whatever you wanted to be in life. When I was a teenager, my mother earned her bachelor's degree, and I saw firsthand how her education broadened her perspectives of the world and allowed her to have a much more personally-fulfilling and higher-paying job. Education just opens so many doors of opportunity."
Dr. J.W. Bruce added, "Our undergraduate and graduate educations have enabled us to have careers that we love--careers that have provided us with life experiences that we could never have imagined possible. We want everyone, especially Tennessee Tech students, to have those same kinds of opportunities and experiences."
The Bruces designated their first gift to support the Tennessee Tech Baja team. Dr. J.W. Bruce has been the faculty advisor to several student projects and similar competition teams throughout the years and has witnessed firsthand that no matter how well you plan, there are always issues (and the associated expenses) that crop up unexpectedly.
"I vividly remember the times when my teams struggled with where to find the resources to address the unexpected," said Dr. J.W. Bruce. "It seems that every time, someone stepped up and helped us out, and everything worked out in the end. We felt this was our opportunity to be that someone to step up and help Tennessee Tech students."
The Tennessee Tech Baja team has a special sentiment to the Bruces. They met as undergraduates when they were both studying engineering, and they worked on a student design team while dating. The two spent many hours working side by side designing and building small autonomous vehicles and taking them to competitions.
Dr. Lori Bruce finds it remarkable that Tech's Baja team started in 1977 in the basement of Brown Hall. In the 40 years since, Tech's student team has finished in the top ten in more than 80% of the competitions they have entered and have placed 1st 12 times, making them the leading National Champion overall.
Dr. Lori Bruce added, "I have personally visited with the Baja student team and their faculty advisor, and they greatly impressed me with their technical skills, teamwork, tenacity, and competitiveness. It is no surprise that they build high quality vehicles that win races and bring national prestige to Tennessee Tech."
"Giving is contagious," said the Bruces. "When we give to Tennessee Tech, it can have a ripple effect of generosity through our community. We hope that our gift inspires others to give back to our students! Together, we can help Tennessee Tech move to even greater successes and heights."
