Kenneth W. De Baun, Stevens Institute of Technology alumnus, presented Edwin A. Stevens Founder’s Award

HOBOKEN, N.J. — During the Edwin A. Stevens Society Gala and Awards Ceremony, held Dec. 2, 2005, at the Westminster Hotel in Livingston, N.J., Stevens Institute of Technology alumnus and entrepreneur Kenneth W. De Baun received the first Edwin A. Stevens Founder’s Award, given for exemplary service to the Institute and to the national community. The following testimonial was presented to Mr. De Baun during the ceremonies, which were attended by more than 200 society members, and at which Stevens President Harold J. Raveche presided:

Kenneth W. De Baun ’49 possesses that rare combination of character and vision that builds, grows and sustains thriving corporations, which in turn bring opportunities to countless others.

De Baun founded and served as President and CEO of 13 companies. In the field of airflow and air filtration, he holds ten US patents, and his ventures included Servodyne Corporation, Servodyne Industries, Air Monitor Corporation, and Air Filter Sales and Service Companies. His other companies, Chateau De Baun Hospitality Center, Vineyards and Winery; Custom Vintners of Sonoma County; Debco and HOPPER Self-Storage Facilities; De Baun Family Properties, LLC; and De Baun Family Investments, LLC, reflect the entrepreneur’s quest for a range of product excellence.

Through the decades of success, his wife Grace has served as advisor and astute business partner. The De Bauns currently serve as advisors to their three children and six grandchildren who manage many of these ongoing entities. De Baun takes particular pride that the above entities, including those previously sold, continue to operate, grow and prosper.

Holding himself to a demanding work ethic, De Baun has found time to contribute his energies to many other endeavors. Since 1990, he has served on the Stevens Board of Trustees and is a member of the President’s Circle. In 1991, he received the Stevens Honor Award and in 1995 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of engineering by his alma mater. He has also received the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. Entrepreneur Award, established at Stevens to recognize extraordinary contributions to the field of business and technology innovation.

His generous giving over many years is witnessed all over campus: The renovation of Edwin A. Stevens Hall, rechristened De Baun Auditorium; his support of the Schaefer Athletic Center led to the De Baun Aquatic Center; and most recently, the new field and athletic complex, now named De Baun Field. De Baun has also sought to inspire others to give generously to Stevens: During the recent five-year Campaign for Stevens, he launched the Kenneth W. and Grace E. De Baun Challenge, a program designed to spur new support for athletics by providing for a matching gift component. It led to the renovation and renaming of the De Baun Athletic Field, a state of the art, all-weather facility. He and Grace have also given generously to the Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. Center for Technology Management, lending their names to the spectacular atrium that opens onto a view of Manhattan and New York Harbor .

In all ways, Ken De Baun exemplifies the spirit of true generosity. His philanthropic interests have always been directed at improving the undergraduate experience; and for that, our students have a special appreciation for all he has done.

Today, we recognize his extraordinary generosity to Stevens Institute of Technology with our first Founder’s Award.

About the Edwin A. Stevens Society

The Edwin A. Stevens Society was founded 25 years ago to recognize alumni and friends who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more. It is named after the founding donor of Stevens Institute of Technology, Edwin Augustus Stevens. Members of the Edwin A. Stevens Society know that Stevens graduates continue to assume key national leadership roles, strengthening our nation and improving our world. EAS Society members are a strong network of industry leaders, inventors, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and educators who believe in making a solid investment in Stevens’ future. To learn more about the EAS Society and how to become a member, please visit www.stevens.edu/dev/eas.html#history, or call Julia Kane at 201-216-5682.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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