KU alumnus donates $75,000 to international programs, English center

LAWRENCE -- A University of Kansas alumnus who was the first KU student from the People's Republic of China has donated $75,000 to the KU Office of International Programs and the Applied English Center.

The gift from Mike Zheng, owner of Microtech Computers Inc. in Lawrence, and his wife, Dana, helped furnish a computer lab for the Applied English Center and included $50,000 in unrestricted funds for the Office of International Programs that will be used for scholarships for international students.

KU will recognize the Zhengs' donation during the grand opening of the Mike and Dana Zheng Computer Lab at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 3. The lab is located in 226 Fraser Hall, part of the Applied English Center. The Zhengs; David Shulenburger, KU provost and executive vice chancellor; Jerome Davies, vice president of development at the KU Endowment Association; and Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs, will attend.

"As KU alumni, we would like to offer to continue to support the Office of International Programs and assist the Applied English Center to help international students to achieve their goals at KU with state-of-the-art technology in the computer lab," said Mike Zheng.

Carlin said, "Mike Zheng represents just one of many success stories among KU's thousands of international students. His generous gift will help current and future international students achieve their academic and career goals. Mike and Dana's gift is a major step toward meeting KU's international education goal."

Mike Zheng received a bachelor's degree in computer science from KU in 1986 and a master's degree in electrical engineering from KU in 1990. Dana Zheng received a bachelor's degree in computer science from KU in 1990.

Since 1986, Microtech has grown to more than 60 employees and delivered more than 80,000 computer systems to Kansas government agencies, universities and school districts.