$100,000 gift establishes lecture series for KU School of Engineering

Under his leadership, the firm became a major player in construction projects throughout Las Vegas and southern Nevada.

In his memory, Tiberti’s family recently established the J.A. Tiberti Family Lecture Series with a $100,000 gift to KU Endowment. The series will address topics such as ethics, ingenuity and entrepreneurship.

Tiberti’s son, Jelindo Angelo Tiberti II, said he and his siblings thought their father would have appreciated the lecture series.

“Education was always a huge part of my father’s and mother’s lives,” he said. “We chose a lecture series because we wanted to give something that people could benefit and learn from and that could live on.”

Another son, John Tito Tiberti, said that for the past 60 years, J.A. Tiberti Construction Company’s core culture has centered on a civil engineering thought process.

“Education is certainly important to the Tiberti family, as well as to the general progress of our society,” he said. “Our father had just passed away at 87 years of age and we felt a lecture series at the KU School of Engineering would present a format to lecture students based on some of J.A. Tiberti’s life beliefs regarding civil engineering, ethics in business and how to contribute to society in a profound way.”

Tom Mulinazzi, professor of civil engineering and friend of the Tiberti family, said the lecture series will help to fill an important area of KU’s engineering education program.

“Engineers are very analytical by nature, but their interpersonal and ethical characteristics will determine success in their careers,” Mulinazzi said. “The Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering is very grateful for this generous gift from the Tiberti family.”

Jelindo Angelo Tiberti III, grandson of J.A. Tiberti, earned bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and business finance from KU in spring 2010 and is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering. It was important to the family that Jelindo Angelo Tiberti III chose to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps by majoring in civil engineering.