Garmin founder gives $1 million to KSU

Kansas State University’s College of Engineering has received a $1 million donation from Min Kao of Garmin International.

The funds are to be used to create four labs in a building addition planned by the engineering school.

The gift announced Friday by KSU is in addition to the more than $1 million dollars in contributions Kao has previously given in support of the the school’s engineering program.

Kao is a co-founder and the executive chairman of Garmin Ltd., which has its U.S. headquarters in Olathe. He earned a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee.

“I am appreciative of state and university leaders who have shown their commitment to making Kansas State University a great institution of higher learning for future engineers,” Kao said. “The university's bold Phase IV addition to the College of Engineering demonstrates its commitment to the future of engineering, and I am delighted to sponsor the creation of these four engineering labs.”

This story was originally published May 15, 2015 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Garmin founder gives $1 million to KSU."