Although fireworks didn’t go off until after the game, the announcement of a $3-million donation Thursday night at Iowa State’s football season opener gave engineering students an exciting half-time show.

The gift to the College of Engineering from 1961 graduate Gary Hoover and his wife, Donna, was announced by ISU President Martin Jischke during halftime of the game. The money will be used for the second phase of the Engineering Teaching and Research Complex (ETRC).

“This generous gift will have a significant impact on future generations of engineers well into the 21st century,” Jischke said.

ISU Engineering Dean Jim Melsa said the ETRC will greatly influence the way engineering students learn because of the continued growth of technology at ISU.

“It’s exciting when alums of the college feel the impact of Iowa State throughout their lives that makes them want to share their success with the college,” Melsa said.

The new building will be named for the Hoovers, pending approval from the Board of Regents.

Gary Hoover said he is proud of the leadership of both Jischke and Melsa. He said he is excited about working with ISU to increase the educational opportunities of students to keep ISU on the cutting edge of engineering.

“I had a small part in Iowa State’s past, and this is a really tremendous opportunity to be a part of Iowa State’s future,” said Gary Hoover.

Hoover graduated from ISU with a degree in mechanical engineering. He co-founded Tenaska, Inc., where he was vice president until 1995. He also worked for Westinghouse as an engineer and is a member of Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.

The Hoovers have not only supported both phases of the ETRC but also the ISU athletic program, scholarships, a skybox, the Jacobson Building and Howe Hall.

The Phase II building will have high-tech classrooms, laboratory space, and it will house the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Office of Engineering Computing Support Services. Another feature of the building will be its skywalks, which will connect it to Howe Hall and the Black Engineering building.

The college will continue to raise money for the ETRC’s rooms, laboratories and equipment, including a $6-million virtual reality facility, Melsa said.

“The measure of one’s worth is the degree to which he or she has made a difference in the lives of others,” said Tom Mitchell, president of the ISU Foundation. “This gift will touch the lives of many in the years to come. We are very grateful for the Hoovers’ selfless act of leadership.”