Stanford University recently received a $28 million pledge from alumnus James Spilker and his wife, Anna Marie Spilker, to name an engineering building in the school's new Science and Engineering Quad and to endow a professorship in the department. James Spilker, one of the leaders in global positioning systems (GPS) developments, believes supporting students as they make technological and scientific discoveries can ensure the United States continues to be a global competitor.

"They have within their grasp the ability to create technologies that can change the world or to found new companies that can employ thousands," James Spilker said. "Most important, if they truly love what they do, they have the key catalyst for success."

In the James and Anna Marie Spilker Engineering and Applied Sciences Building, students will conduct atomic scale research to address a range of important issues. Their work aims to identify new semiconductors, advanced communications networks, water purification systems and innovation prescription medications.

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