Retired faculty member creates chemistry teaching award

Dr. Leo Spinar committed more than three decades of his life to teaching at SDSU, working to ignite the spark of chemistry in undergraduates of all majors.

He no longer does that in the classroom, but he remains passionate about the cause. Through a gift, Spinar and his wife, Elaine, have created an annual award to a faculty member for undergraduate teaching excellence in chemistry and biochemistry.

Retired faculty, like Spinar, are among the university’s most ardent financial supporters. Nearly $4.2 million has been committed since 2007; there are 48 retired faculty who have given $10,000 or more to the campaign.

If you’d like to join the retired faculty who have given to It Starts with STATE: A Campaign for South Dakota State University, click here to give now.