MELBOURNE, Fla., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Two new
high-technology learning centers for students – one made possible
by a $3 million gift from Harris
Corporation (NYSE: HRS) and the other outfitted with the company's
advanced broadcasting equipment – were opened September 23 and 24 at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville.
On Thursday, September 23,
representatives from Harris and UF's College of Engineering
dedicated the renovated Computer and Information Science and
Engineering building. Part of the $3
million gift from the Harris Foundation was used to renovate
the third floor of the building, which has been named the Harris
Gateway to Learning and Innovation.
The gift also established the Dean's Excellence Endowment Fund
and the Research Excellence Fund in Computer Science and
Engineering – both designed to support innovative research in the
field of computer science and engineering – as well as the Pramond
P. Khargonekar Junior Faculty Award for Excellence, intended to
help attract and retain outstanding faculty.
On Friday, September 24, UF held
the grand opening of its new 21st Century News Laboratory, which is
part of the College of Journalism and Communications' Center for
Media Innovation and Research. The lab is equipped with the latest
high-definition production and broadcasting equipment from Harris,
which also assisted in the design of the new facility.
The lab enables students to train in a fully networked,
multimedia environment typical of today's commercial broadcasting
operations. In a single facility, students now can create
content for print, television, radio and the web – giving them
real-world, on-the-job training that will help them succeed in
their careers.
"It is imperative that we provide students the latest tools and
learning facilities to prepare them to hit the ground running when
they join the high-tech workforce," said Kent Buchanan, chief technology officer at
Harris. "These new facilities will help the University of Florida recruit the type of
outstanding faculty and students so necessary to maintain a vital
and growing state economy."
"Harris has shown great commitment to UF, and the company has a
lot of vision directed toward growing the state's high-technology
economy," said UF President Bernie
Machen, "We are pleased to partner with Harris on
these high-technology learning centers, and we look forward to more
productive collaborations in the future."
A photo is available at the following link: UF Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony
Over the past four years, the Harris Foundation has made
contributions, grants and pledges to support higher education in
science, math and engineering totaling more than $9 million. Harris also sponsors, and its
employees participate in, a variety of programs designed to
strengthen the quality of life in the countries and communities
where the company has operations. During the past year,
Harris donated more than $4.3 million
to nonprofit organizations and its employees volunteered more than
54,000 hours in their communities.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information
technology company serving government and commercial markets in
more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
approximately $5 billion of annual
revenue and more than 16,000 employees — including nearly 7,000
engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing
best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is
available at www.harris.com.
SOURCE Harris Corporation
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