FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - UA alumnus David D. Foust and his wife, Nancy, of Rogers have made a $165,000 gift that will provide support for scholarships and establish a new laboratory in the industrial engineering department at the University of Arkansas.

The Fousts’ gift will be primarily directed to the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering scholarship endowment, a fund that was established in 1986 to provide support for industrial engineering students. The gift will also establish the David D. and Nancy J. Foust Computation Laboratory in Industrial Engineering, a state-of-the-art interactive teaching facility where industrial engineering students will have access to the latest in computer hardware and software designed for industrial engineering projects.

"The Fousts have been great friends and strong supporters of the industrial engineering department and the College of Engineering over the years," said John R. English, professor and head of industrial engineering. "We are grateful to our good friends, David and Nancy Foust, for their gift to augment the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering scholarship endowment and to establish a new IE laboratory. The impact of their gift will be felt for years to come and is critical to helping us achieve our vision of a nationally competitive student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world."

UA Chancellor John A. White said, "As we rise to meet the challenge for the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, it’s more important than ever that we raise funds to help us increase the size and quality of our student body. We are grateful to David and Nancy Foust for this gift to augment the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering scholarship endowment and to establish a new IE laboratory. The impact of their gift will be felt for years to come and is critical to helping us achieve our vision of a nationally competitive student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world."

Mr. Foust, who received the bachelor of science in industrial engineering from the U of A in 1964, is an active member of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering. Prior to his retirement he was president and CEO of Seneca Wire and Manufacturing Company. He is a member of the Engineering Advisory Council and serves on the College of Engineering Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Committee.

Mrs. Foust, a native of Pocahontas, Ark., attended Arkansas State University. Their two children graduated from the U of A, and in 1992 the Fousts were named University of Arkansas Honorary Parents.

The gift is part of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, a seven-year effort to raise $900 million from private sources for the University of Arkansas. Campaign funds are being used to help the University achieve its vision of emerging as a nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world. Campaign funds are being raised for six critical areas of need: endowed faculty positions, scholarship funds, academic programs, University Libraries, construction of new - and improving existing - academic facilities and annual giving.