History of the Chicago Engineers‘ Foundation

50 Years of Youth Empowerment

The Chicago Engineers’ Club was organized by fifteen engineers, lead by two civil engineers, Ralph Modjeski and Louis E. Ritter.

The initial objectives of the Foundation included the award of engineering scholarships to outstanding high school students in the Chicago area.

The corporate objectives of the Engineers’ Club were “to promote the interests of the engineering profession in all its branches, to secure and disseminate engineering knowledge, and to promote sociability and acquaintance among members of the engineering profession.”

The Chicago Engineers’ Club Foundation was organized in 1963 by the Chicago Engineers’ Club.

1963 1903 1953 1963

Contributions from the members of the Chicago Engineers’ Club were solicited to fund the activities of the new Foundation. Annual dues for Foundation members were set at $60.

At about 500 members, the Chicago Engineers’ Club was featured in the May 28, 1953 Chicago Tribune to acknowledge the Chicago Engineers’ Club 50th year Anniversary

The number of awards increased to 15, each year starting in 1974.

Beginning in 1969, the Foundation granted ten $100.00 awards each year to Chicago high school graduating seniors who had been admitted to college engineering programs.

The Chicago Engineers' Club merged with the Union League Club of Chicago, and the Foundation became the Chicago Engineers’ Foundation of the Union League Club.

1975 1974 1969 - 1973

On September 25, 2013 the Chicago Engineers Foundation of the Union League Club will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

The Chicago Engineers’ Foundation equally encourages all students, both male and female, and of every race and ethnicity, to study engineering, and make its awards accordingly.

In June 2013, the Foundation awarded over $90,000 to over 100 students, thanks to the generosity of the members of the Union League Club of Chicago and other donors.

20131995 19991986

In June 1999, Foundation President George Sinka, announced the incentive award program was expanded to allow college students to reapply. This expansion is in large part funded by the generosity of the Martin and Patricia Jahn Foundation

In June 1995, Foundation President Stewart Karge, announced the incentive awards program was expanded to include graduates of Chicago private high schools.

From 1969 to 2013 the Chicago Engineers’ Foundation has awarded over $1.1 million to Chicago High School Graduates to encourage their engineering studies.