Parker Hannifin has directed $3 million to the creation of an endowment fund for undergraduate and graduate scholarships in Cleveland State’s Fenn College of Engineering. In addition, $1 million will be directed to the creation of an endowment fund for building improvements for the Cleveland State University Administration Center and the structure formerly known as Howe Mansion.

The University’s Board of Trustees today accepted the gift and in appreciation, authorized the naming of two buildings that are key components of the campus master plan. Howe Mansion, which is being renovated into a home for the College of Graduate Studies, will be called Parker Hannifin Hall. Just east of Parker Hannifin Hall, the new Administration Center that is being built will be called Parker Hannifin Administration Center. Both buildings are on Euclid Avenue near East 24th Street.

Donald Washkewicz, chairman and chief executive officer of Parker Hannifin, is a 1972 graduate of the Fenn College of Engineering, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in 2004.

“Parker Hannifin and Don Washkewicz are longtime partners of Cleveland State University. This outstanding show of support takes our partnership to a whole new level,” said Cleveland State University President Michael Schwartz.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Parker Hannifin. This major gift will allow us to offer scholarships to academically strong and needy students and will help our Fenn College of Engineering realize its fullest potential for serving our community and educating future generations of engineering students. At the same time, this gift supports our master plan that will improve the quality of campus life and make Cleveland State more competitive and more connected to the city,” Dr. Schwartz added.

Accepting the gift with President Schwartz were Board of Trustees Chairman Timothy J. Cosgrove and members of the University’s Board of Trustees.

“Parker Hannifin is proud to support Cleveland State University and its vision for the future,” said Washkewicz. “This gift continues our commitment to making educational opportunities available to students of the region whose careers will be vital to Northeastern Ohio’s future growth and prosperity.”

Parker Hannifin’s gift will be formally recognized at a luncheon at the Fenn College of Engineering at a future date.

Cleveland State University/Parker Hannifin Partnership Highlights
- For more than 15 years, Parker Hannifin has financially supported scholarships for engineering students; the LINK Program, which links minority students to careers in business, engineering, and arts and sciences through cooperative education; and the Access to Careers in Engineering Program, which encourages high school students to pursue an engineering career.

- In November 2000, a $100,000 gift established the Parker Hannifin Motion and Control Laboratory at the Fenn College of Engineering. Since then, Parker has provided an additional $20,000 for the lab. The firm has pledged to regularly maintain and upgrade lab equipment so students can learn by using the most advanced technology.

-In January 2004, a $102,000 endowment established the Parker Hannifin Engineering Scholarship as part of the Moses Cleaveland Scholarship Program.

- Parker regularly recruits and hires graduates and has more than 140 Cleveland State alumni working for the company across the United States. Parker also has an ongoing summer internship program for Cleveland State students.

- In November 2003, Parker Hannifin received the Corporate Leadership Award at the Association of Fundraising Professional’s National Philanthropy Day. Cleveland State nominated Parker for this award.

Donald Washkewicz
Following his graduation from Cleveland State’s Fenn College of Engineering in 1972, Don Washkewicz joined Parker Hannifin as an engineer in the Hose Products division. He was promoted to manager of Research and Development, where he received seven patents for new product designs and developed several proprietary manufacturing processes. He was promoted to general manager of the Parflex division, which he helped grow from a small unit to a work force of 400 people with more than $100 million in annual sales. He also served as vice president of the Fluid Connectors Group and president of the Hydraulics Group.

Washkewicz was named president and chief operating officer in 2000, and became president and CEO in 2001. He was elected chairman in 2004.

Washkewicz has long been a strong supporter of Cleveland State University. In 2002, he received the George B. Davis Award for Service to the University as part of the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. In 2004, he was the keynote speaker at spring commencement and received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.

Cleveland State University is a comprehensive metropolitan university committed to providing an education of high quality to students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, interests, and needs. Located in downtown Cleveland, with extended campuses in Solon and Westlake, Cleveland State University offers degrees in 117 undergraduate and graduate programs that include business administration, liberal arts and social sciences, engineering, education and human services, law, sciences, and urban affairs. More than 16,000 students attend Cleveland State.

With annual sales exceeding $7 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs more than 48,000 people in 46 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 48 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.parker.com, or its investor information site at www.phstock.com.