At about 9 a.m. this morning, Lafayette College will announce one of the largest donations in school history. The gift, amounting to $27.9 million, will support a new interdisciplinary science facility.

The donation, courtesy of Kent Rockwell ‘66, will support the science and technology departments. Rockwell is currently chairman and CEO of Rockwell Venture Capital, Inc. as well as CEO of Rockwell Forest Products and ExOne. He is serving his second term as a college trustee and was an economics major at Lafayette. He also attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and established the S. Kent Rockwell ‘66 Scholarship Fund to provide financial aid to Marquis Scholars at Lafayette.

President Alison Byerly described the gift as “historic” and “among the largest two or three gifts the college has received.” The donation gives Byerly a solid foundation to build her tenure around.

The announcement comes at a time when the President’s Office is dealing with the after-effects of controversial new alcohol and drug policies for student-athletes.

Look to The Lafayette for further coverage of the historic donation.