For nearly 45 years, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has served individuals, families, and communities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, by offering grant awards to enrichment programs. One of the Murdock Trust's grant recipients is Saint Martin’s University, which received $800,000.
According to the 2017 STEM Education Report Card published by the Washington State STEM Education Innovation Alliance, the state is experiencing growth in STEM-related jobs, but has continuously ranked low in producing graduates with STEM degrees. As a result, employers are forced to hire from out-of-state talent. The construction of a new and well-equipped science building will be instrumental in Saint Martin’s University’s efforts of meeting the nation’s demands for STEM graduates and boosting Washington’s economy.
With the Murdock Trust’s grant, the university aims to build a 30,000-square foot science classroom and laboratory building that will be used by students, researchers, and faculty members for conducting classes and STEM research. The new building will be located near the Panowicz Foundry for Innovation and the E.L. Wiegand Laboratories where the current lectures and research on engineering and computer science are held. The new science building is expected to open in the fall of 2019, and will be the main hub for student-faculty research and collaboration.
