$100K gift honors a lifelong Michigan fan and fuels student success in nuclear engineering
New endowment supports undergraduates through the Robert Edward Farrell Memorial Nuclear Engineering Scholarship.
The University of Michigan’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS) is the recipient of a generous new endowment honoring the life and legacy of alumnus Robert Edward Farrell (BSE ’72). A $100,000 gift from his wife, Donna Jorgenson Farrell, will establish two memorial scholarships: one for nuclear engineering students at the College of Engineering and one for members of the Michigan Marching Band at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
The Robert Edward Farrell Memorial Nuclear Engineering Scholarship will provide sustained support for undergraduate students in NERS. As an endowed fund, the scholarship will grow over time to support generations of future engineers committed to the discipline that shaped Farrell’s life and career.
Born in Ann Arbor in 1948, Robert Farrell was a proud Wolverine from the start. While earning his degree in nuclear engineering, he also marched with the Michigan Marching Band, carrying a baritone saxophone and cheering on the Maize and Blue. His professional career spanned decades of public service, including positions at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy, where he maintained a Q clearance and a reputation for integrity, dedication, and patriotism. He died on December 15, 2024.
This scholarship reflects the values that guided Farrell’s life: a love for Michigan, a commitment to national service, and a belief in the power of education. It is Donna’s hope that the gift will help students pursue their own goals in nuclear engineering and continue a legacy of excellence and enthusiasm.
“Bob interrupted his education and volunteered to serve in the Army during the Vietnam era,” said Donna. “As a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, he played in the band. He was never deployed out of the country and returned to Michigan after his honorable discharge, finishing his nuclear engineering degree in 1972. The greatest gift he received, he said, was to be born and raised Catholic, even though his closet was overflowing with maize and blue t-shirts that read ‘MICHIGAN.’ In working through all the details and changes following Bob’s death, I felt like I was erasing him from life. These scholarships mean that he will always be part of the community he loved, The University of Michigan.”
The scholarship gift is accompanied by a second endowment that honors Farrell’s musical roots. The Robert Edward Farrell Memorial Marching Band Scholarship, established through the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, will support student participants in the Michigan Marching Band.
Support for undergraduate students is central to NERS’s broader mission. Whether advancing nuclear security, clean energy, radiation medicine, or space exploration, today’s undergraduates are tomorrow’s innovators and leaders. By investing in student access and success, donors like Donna are directly shaping the future of the field.
“Robert Farrell’s time at Michigan reflected a deep commitment to both scientific excellence and creative expression—values that we also hold dear at NERS,” said NERS Chair Todd Allen. “We recognize that engineering and arts are not separate pursuits—they enrich each other. We’re proud to honor Robert’s legacy through this scholarship and support students who, like him, bring their full passions to the Michigan experience. We are deeply grateful to Donna for creating this enduring legacy in his name.”
To contribute to the future of nuclear engineering at Michigan, visit the NERS Special Fund donation page or contact the Michigan Engineering Office of Advancement at (734) 647-7040 or [email protected].