Lafayette College Receives $27.9M Gift, Largest in School's History

 Lafayette College announced today it has received one of the largest contributions in the College’s history from Lafayette trustee and alumni S. Kent Rockwell, who graduated from the school after majoring in econmics in 1966.

The gift, made to a trust that Rockwell established benefiting the College, was in the form of stock in ExOne, a global provider of 3D  printers and printed products to industrial customers, that was sold for $27.9 million.

College officials said the gift will support initiatives in science, technology, and innovation at the school and will support a new interdisciplinary science facility at Lafayette.

"We are immensely grateful for this extraordinary and historic gift," says Lafayette President Alison Byerly. "Lafayette is committed to becoming a leader in offering innovative educational programs in fields at the intersection of the life sciences, technology, and engineering. Kent Rockwell’s vision and generosity will enable us to strengthen our efforts in this area significantly."

S. Kent Rockwell
Photo provided by Lafayette College

Rockwell has been chairman and CEO of Rockwell Venture Capital Inc. in Pittsburgh since 1983, the college said. The firm invests in technology-based engineering products and services. He also currently serves as chairman and CEO of Rockwell Forest Products and of ExOne, and is chairman of Strata Proximity Systems, which provides safety systems for mines.

He was elected in 2009 to his second term as a Lafayette trustee and also served on the board from 1971-75.

He established the S. Kent Rockwell ’66 Scholarship Fund which provides financial aid to Marquis Scholars at the College.

His father, Willard Rockwell, through the Rockwell Foundation, established the Rockwell Foundation Scholarship Fund.