The University’s Duluth campus announced a $10 million gift Friday from a foundation co-directed by Jim Swenson, a 1959 University graduate.
The gift from the Swenson Family Foundation — the school’s largest donation — followed the announcement of the campus’ $28 million Capital Campaign. So far, a total of $15 million has been pledged.
“This generous gift to UMD provides scholarship opportunities, research experience and the potential for new, state-of-the-art science facilities,” said Bilin Tsai, head of the school’s chemistry department.
The Swenson gift will be apportioned as follows: $2.5 million will go toward scholarships and undergraduate chemistry research programs, and $7.5 million will be used to finance a laboratory science building.
Swenson founded Details Inc., a California-based printed circuit- board company, after earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the Duluth campus. When it was sold in 1997, Details had 480 employees and supplied companies like Compaq, Apple and Motorola.

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