The Cabrillo College Foundation received a gift of $894,495 from the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation. Long-time benefactors of Cabrillo College, Peggy and Jack Baskin have provided leadership in many areas of the College. Jack has served on Cabrillo’s Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and Peggy is the co-founder of the Cabrillo College Foundation’s Women’s Educational Success program. Their gift will name the Jack and Peggy Baskin Technology Center for Engineering, Computing and Physics.
Last year, Cabrillo College received a $4.3 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to significantly ‘scale up’ and centralize student support services for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors. Part of that grant included the creation of a
new STEM Center with increased academic support (peer-led supplemental instruction and tutoring in math and science) and proactive academic and transfer advising, as well as expanded Engineering and Computer Science laboratory spaces and resources to promote a project based/total engagement experience for STEM students.
“We’ve dreamt of co-locating all departments in one, state of-the-art facility like this for many years, and this gift from the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation brings that dream to reality,” said Jo-Ann Panzardi, Cabrillo College Engineering Department Chair and Instructor. “Faculty,
staff and administrators are looking forward to the positive impact that the Jack and Peggy Baskin Technology Center for Engineering, Computing and Physics will have on student success.”
Funds from the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation will be allocated toward construction costs not covered by the U.S. Department of Education grant as well as a building preservation endowment for the new Jack and Peggy Baskin Technology Center for Engineering, Computing
and Physics, which will feature an expanded and improved facility as well as targeted program support for Cabrillo’s STEM students. At present, Engineering, Physics, MESA, and Computer Science programs are located throughout the campus, many in temporary facilities. This grant
will co-locate all of those programs in one, state-of-the-art facility, tailored to students’ needs.
In addition, the grant from the Peggy and Jack Baskin Technology Center will establish and fund the Baskin Girls in Engineering and Technology Summer Program. This program will serve between 25 and 30 Santa Cruz County middle school girls with a week-long summer program that will expose girls to engineering and technology through exciting, hands-on projects, with the goal of increasing the number of female students enrolled in Cabrillo engineering and technology programs, and ultimately, addressing the nationwide shortage of women in these fields.
“We decided to establish the Jack and Peggy Baskin Technology Center for Engineering, Computing and Physics at Cabrillo College after funding the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UCSC,” said Jack Baskin, Co-Founder of the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation. “I have an engineering background, and it is the basis for where I am today. I think this center will be an excellent addition to the curricula at Cabrillo, one that helps students be successful and provides graduates with a very optimistic employment prospect.”
The Girls in Engineering and Technology Summer Program will launch after construction is completed on the Jack and Peggy Baskin Technology Center for Engineering, Computing and Physics.
“I expect the same stellar results with the Girls and Engineering and Technology Summer Program,” said Peggy Baskin, Co-Founder of the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation. “The girls are so excited by the idea that they can create technology by working in teams and building
robots, among other activities. The instructors that are teaching the young girls to work with technology serve as role models—they’re wonderful.”
"This gift brings Peggy and Jack Baskin and their foundation's giving total to Cabrillo College Foundation to nearly $1.5 million. In the past they supported the Baskin Childcare Center, the Cabrillo Advancement Program and Women's Educational Success a program for which Peggy has great passion,” said Melinda Silverstein, Executive Director of the Cabrillo College Foundation. "Their continued loyalty and support shows their steadfast commitment to Cabrillo students and the community."
“It’s committed individuals like Peggy and Jack Baskin that make innovative programs like these possible,” said Cabrillo College President Brian King. “Both Peggy and Jack Baskin are pioneers in their respective industries and are providing this pathway for the education and development of future pioneers. We are incredibly grateful for the Baskin’s support and are pleased to name the Jack and Peggy Baskin Technology Center for Engineering, Computing and Physics in their honor."
