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Salvatore Randaccio scholarship and laboratory 

Benefactor Letizia Randaccio, daughter of Salvatore Randaccio, announced a scholarship endowment to the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science in honour of her father’s legacy as a civil and building engineer.

Salvatore Randaccio, an engineer who immigrated to Canada in 1950, was involved in the design and construction of major infrastructure projects that include the St. Lawrence Seaway, Manic 5 dam in northern Quebec, Arrow Lake dam in B.C. and foundations for the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of Loyola College from 1964 until his death in 1968.

The Salvatore Randaccio Scholarship — worth $2,500 and renewable for three years — is awarded to a full-time student in the Department of Building or Civil Engineering who has demonstrated academic excellence.

Alex Szemenyei, a first-year student enrolled in the Civil Engineering/Coop program for the 2008-09 academic year, is the first scholarship recipient.

In recognition of Randaccio’s generosity, Concordia has renamed room 11.105 in the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex — where the naming ceremony took place — as the Salvatore Randaccio Laboratory.

Among the Sept. 12 ceremony’s speakers were Kathy Assayag, VP Advancement and Alumni Relations, who lauded Randaccio’s string of accomplishments and said that his daughter’s gift was a fitting tribute to her father’s legacy.

Judith Woodsworth, Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor, thanked Randaccio for her tremendous generosity and pointed out that donations like these motivate the Faculty’s 4 000 undergraduate and 2 600 graduate students to enhance the academic quality of programs in Engineering and Computer Science and the overall learning experience. Randaccio said she was touched by Concordia’s recognition of her father and gift and said that had he lived, he would have been proud to be part of the ceremony in his honour.