News and Events - College of
Engineering Associate Dean and Wife Establish Scholarship
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John and
Claire McDonough
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John McDonough, former associate dean of the
University of Maine College of Engineering, spent more than 30
years here providing students with the knowledge and skills to go
out into the world and be successful. With characteristic kindness
and patience he also offered academic and career guidance that
helped them lay the foundation for a thriving professional life.
But before retiring in June, 2007, he gave
UMaine students one final gift.
Along with his wife, Claire, a former nurse
and UMaine graduate, Professor McDonough provided scholarship aid
to undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Engineering
Technology and the School of Nursing who demonstrate excellent
academic performance and exhibit outstanding personal
characteristics that promise successful careers.
The decision to establish the John and Claire
McDonough Scholarship Fund came easily to the couple who say they
wanted to honor their careers and pay tribute to the University
that has given them so much.
"It's been a wonderful life here and I wanted
to give back," says Professor McDonough, director of the School of
Engineering Technology from 1983 to 2001.
"We are both firm believers in higher
education and we wanted to help somebody who's going to go on and
earn a degree," says Claire, who received a bachelor's degree in
University Studies in 2001. She recently retired after 24 years as
a nurse with the American Red Cross in Bangor.
The couple's generous gift received a boost at
Professor McDonough's retirement party when friends, family and
colleagues contributed towards the fund. They raised more than
$3,000.
"It was a great addition," Professor McDonough
says.
A professional engineer, he is a fellow of the
American Society of Civil Engineers and a fellow of the American
Society for Engineering Education. His career took an unexpected
turn in the 1970's when he taught for two years in Afghanistan and
one year in Algeria. He remembers his stint in Afghanistan --
where he helped establish a college of engineering -- with
particular fondness.
"We loved the country and the opportunity to
travel to other parts of the world," he says. "I also enjoyed
working with the local people to try and get the college up and
running."
Residents of Orono, the McDonoughs are the
parents of four adult children, two of whom are UMaine graduates.
With their professional lives behind them, the
couple say they look forward to traveling, golfing, gardening and
spending time with their nine grandchildren.
But Professor McDonough admits that it won't
feel quite the same without UMaine in the picture.
"I'll definitely miss everyone - the students,
my colleagues, the staff," he says.
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