Engineering’s First Long-Term Gift : $1-Million Trust Given UCI School by Couple

UC Irvine’s School of Engineering has received a $1-million trust from a Newport Beach couple, the first gift of its kind for that school, the university announced.

The gift from Reed and Rita Sprinkel for the civil engineering program will help finance research, teaching activities, scholarships and fellowships.

Reed Sprinkel is former president and chairman of the board of Fontana Paving Inc.

The gift is the first long-term gift, or “planned gift,” for the School of Engineering. Planned gifts include trusts, bequests, gift annuities, pooled income funds and certain gifts of real estate. The Sprinkels’ trust is set up to provide the couple with interest income, but that income will revert to UCI upon their death.

Millions in Gifts

During its 23-year history UCI has received many millions in planned gifts for other departments.

By coincidence, Cal State Fullerton’s School of Engineering and Computer Science also received its first long-range gift last month. Rockwell International announced the $300,000 grant on Oct. 5. It became the first endowment in Cal State Fullerton’s 29-year history.

The UCI donation by the Sprinkels was praised by William Sirignano, dean of the School of Engineering.

“Our growing strength is due not only to the achievements of our outstanding faculty and our expanding facilities but also to people like Reed and Rita Sprinkel, who have recognized the potential for excellence in our engineering program,” Sirignano said.

Statement by Sprinkel

Reed Sprinkel, in a brief statement, said UCI’s research and outreach programs directly help the business community. “UCI provides a unique opportunity for businesses to develop partnerships with the university,” he said. “The results benefit both the business and UCI.

Sprinkel sold Fontana Paving last June after serving as the company’s president for 32 years. Prior to the sale, the company last February contributed $10,000 to establish a graduate student fellowship in civil engineering at UCI.

Reed Sprinkel is a member of UCI’s Chief Executive Roundtable--a group of business leaders who work with UCI faculty on various issues. Rita Sprinkel, a former actress and model, is a representative of the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The couple have been members of the UCI Chancellor’s Club since 1985.