Tuskegee University News April 6, 2016 Distinguished inventor and alumnus gives generous gift of $100,000 Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Mechanical Engineering '73 and Master's Nuclear Engineering '75, has made a generous gift of $100,000 to Tuskegee University. Johnson's gift will go toward College of Engineering labs and facility-related upgrades. Johnson, an engineer, scientist, and entrepreneur, is recognized as the inventor of the "Super-Soaker" water blaster toy, which enjoys worldwide acclaim. But perhaps more importantly, he and his company are presently involved in cutting-edge research and technologies which can change our world. "I made this gift because I want to recognize that Tuskegee provided me the foundation I needed to launch from. I wish I could do more. Tuskegee gave me a great start and I want to provide opportunities for other deserving students to succeed in the same way. I encourage my fellow alumni to make similar gestures of support. I'm very optimistic about this administration's goodwill and determination. We need to support it," Johnson said. "What's been most rewarding about my relationship with Tuskegee has been working with the College of Engineering and its students, involving them in energy-related initiatives which can transform how we use energy. It's been gratifying," he added. Johnson is the CEO of Johnson Research and Development in Atlanta. Among his company's most exciting areas of research are a thermo-electrical chemical converter and the production of lithium solid-state ceramic batteries. The converter will provide electricity more efficiently and can be powered from any heat source, including, solar, waste, factories, and even body heat. The batteries will provide three times the energy of current lithium ion batteries - they are the next generation of battery technology, even a clear step beyond batteries currently used by Elon Musk in his work with Tesla and Space X. For example, this battery technology could address critical needs for NASA for deep space missions, which currently require an extremely rare form of plutonium. Tuskegee University President Brian Johnson expressed gratitude for the gift and the continuing partnership with Lonnie Johnson. "Tuskegee University is deeply grateful to Mr. Johnson for his generosity. This $100,000 gift from an alum follows on the heels of a recent $600,000 anonymous gift from an alumni family, and it is the clearest tell-tale sign of aligning one's words with one's works in demonstrative giving," President Johnson said. "Mother Tuskegee is proud of the genius and creativity of Lonnie Johnson and the Tuskegee environment that nurtured his talents." Engineering is among Tuskegee's most popular majors and the gift will contribute to supporting our students' knowledge and experience. "The generous donation by Lonnie Johnson will be used to modernize and enhance some of the educational infrastructure of the College of Engineering," said interim dean, Dr. Heshmat A. Aglan. "I am very thrilled with this gift from a distinguished engineering alum who is committed to helping us here at Tuskegee to maintain top-notch engineering programs, graduating the best and brightest engineers." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.