By Lucas Sharma SJ
A rendering of the future Sobrato Campus for Discover and Innovation at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University recently announced that long time donors John A. (1960) and Susan Sobrato have made a $100 million gift to the university to fund the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation. This center will allow students at Santa Clara to continue to advance learning across “STEM” disciplines – sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Mr. Sobrato stated that
“This gift is the largest in our family’s history. We are especially pleased to support the University’s new strategic vision and the transformational STEM initiative at its core. The state-of-the-art, 300,000-square-foot, undergraduate-focused complex will allow for the integration of the various engineering departments with the natural science disciplines of the College of Arts and Sciences to address—with Jesuit values—some of the world’s most pressing problems.”
John A. (1960) and Susan Sobrato.
The Sobratos have been long-time benefactors of the university as well as supporters of Jesuit secondary education in Silicon Valley. They have given generously to both Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, and their commitment to Jesuit education helped launched Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School.
This gift is exciting for the university, especially as STEM education and research continues to be increasingly important in the United States. Former President Barack Obama, for example, highlighted the crucial need for commitment to STEM disciplines in his 2016 State of the Union Address. With the new center, Santa Clara expects more than 5,400 students will benefit.
President Michael E. Engh, S.J. praised the Sobratos for their continuous commitment to the Jesuit higher education:
“The Sobratos are setting a challenge for others, saying come join us to make Santa Clara University an even greater Jesuit, Catholic institution.”
Visit Santa Clara’s website to learn more about the center and see a video documenting this historic gift. San Jose’s Mercury News also featured an article on this historic donation. For more information about the Sobrato Family, visit the website of the Sobrato Organization.
Photos Courtesy of Santa Clara University.