Alum designates $1.5M estate gift to Trine

A New York doctor has given Trine University $1.5 million to construct a wing on Best Hall of Science.

The gift from alumnus Dr. James R. Rinker, of Binghamton, N.Y., supports health sciences programs at Trine.

“Such generous support for our health sciences programs is gratifying,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president. “The gift from Dr. Rinker truly shows how much he values Trine and the academic programs we offer.”

Dr. Rinker, a 1958 business administration graduate of Tri-State College, now Trine, has fond memories of working his way through college and becoming active in the Angola community, he said.

“We’re very excited about our commitment for the science center,” Dr. Rinker said of the donation from his Rinker-Ross Memorial Foundation. The wing will be named the Rinker-Ross Memorial Center for the Sciences. “We have determined that a private university such as Trine could use our funds and the foundation is dedicated to Trine. We know that our pledge will be well spent.”