Distinguished Awards Celebration 2007

Order of the Knoll Corporate and Foundation Award

Caterpillar, Inc.

To Caterpillar, Inc., for exceptional support for Iowa State University and outstanding leadership as a global corporate citizen

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar, Inc., has been a leader in building the world's infrastructure. In partnership with its worldwide dealer network, it is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. It has also been a central partner in building the educational and research infrastructure of Iowa State University and providing opportunities for its graduates.

With 2005 sales and revenues of more than $36 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. The company is also a leading developer of new technologies for these industries. Approximately half of all sales are to customers outside of the United States, maintaining Caterpillar's position as a global supplier and leading U.S. exporter.

The partnership between Caterpillar and Iowa State's College of Engineering dates back to 1930 when the company began hiring Iowa State graduates. It has grown considerably over the years and is now considered a model industry/university partnership in terms of maximizing benefits for both partners. Caterpillar has supported Iowa State with grants totaling more than $400,000 to support research and gifts totaling more than $1.6 million. These gifts provide support for research, facilities, endowed faculty positions, faculty exchanges, student scholarships, co-ops and internships, distance education, and international programs.

Caterpillar executives serve on several advisory boards, and Caterpillar is also a charter member of the college's Strategic Industrial Partnership (SIP) program.

The Caterpillar Mechatronics Laboratory in Howe Hall was built and equipped with gifts from Caterpillar in 2003. This laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art hydraulics equipment used in both undergraduate and graduate course work. By establishing this laboratory and providing technical support, Iowa State is able to provide the very best education in the increasingly important field of mechatronics.

Many Iowa State graduates are employed by Caterpillar, including some of its top executives, and the company has a generous matching gift program.

Caterpillar is a leading corporate global citizen in other ways. In response to the Asian tsunami disaster, Caterpillar and its dealers provided machines, money, and resources for relief and recovery efforts. Caterpillar is also the lead corporate donor in The Nature Conservancy's Great Rivers Partnership project, and the company is consistently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.

Accepting the award for Caterpillar is Vice President Jim Waters ('81 electrical engineering) of Peoria, Illinois, who is president of the College of Engineering Industrial Advisory Council and a frequent participant in the college's Student Leadership Workshops.