John A. Swanson, who earned a PhD at Pitt’s School of Engineering in 1966, pursues his dream to create 3D modeling for stress analysis in rockets. The company he founds in his house in Pittsburgh to develop and market his simulation software becomes Ansys, home to technology that allows engineers and designers to predict how products will function under real conditions. Ansys software becomes the global industry standard while the company keeps its home in the Pittsburgh region. In 2007, Swanson donates $41.3 million, at the time the largest gift from a single donor. Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering is named in his honor.