NN ARBOR, Mich.---The late Richard Haken helped develop the space shuttle’s robotic arm. Now, a fellowship established in his honor will help the next generation of aerospace engineers achieve their own dreams.

Esther Haken, Richard’s mother, has bequeathed a trust to the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering to create the Richard L. Haken Fellowship in Aerospace Engineering. One Aerospace Engineering graduate student each year will be chosen to receive it, beginning in 2008.

“This is a mother’s tribute to her son and his accomplishments,” said Roger Burgess, a close family friend who is the trustee for Esther Haken’s estate. “Esther was intensely proud of her son and what he accomplished scholastically, as a student of the U-M, and as a significant contributor to the US space program. She established this fellowship in his name as a long term tribute to his life and contributions.”

Richard Haken, an only child, was born in 1936 in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Creston High School and attended U-M for his entire higher education. He received his bachelor of science in engineering (BSE) in electrical engineering in 1958. He received his master of science in engineering (MSE) in electrical engineering in 1961, and a professional degree in electrical engineering in 1966. For most of his career, he worked in the space industry with TRW Incorporated in Houston. He worked on the space shuttle and the Mercury missions. He died in 1997. Esther died in 2006.

“We appreciate the gift from Mrs. Haken. Aerospace Engineering graduate students will greatly benefit from this generous support for advanced learning,” said Wei Shyy, chair of the U-M Aerospace Engineering Department. “It is my hope that it encourages students to investigate issues related to the interplay between traditionally separated disciplines in a modern multidisciplinary framework.”

The University of Michigan College of Engineering is ranked among the top engineering schools in the country. Michigan Engineering boasts one of the largest engineering research budgets of any public university, at more than $130 million. Michigan Engineering has 11 departments and an NSF Engineering Research Center. Within those departments and the center, there is a special emphasis on research in three emerging areas: nanotechnology and integrated microsystems; cellular and molecular biotechnology; and information technology. Michigan Engineering is seeking to raise $110 million for capital building projects and program support in these areas to further research discovery. Michigan Engineering's goal is to advance academic scholarship and market cutting-edge research to improve public health and well-being.