Gary Paul Kosten Engineering Legacy Scholarship
Gary Paul Kosten, an alumnus of The William States Lee College of Engineering, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in 1999. Originally from San Diego, Gary spent most of his life in North Carolina, where his love of science and math led him to pursue a career in engineering. Gary began his career with United Engineering Inc, and later joined Optima Engineering, where he would go on to earn his Professional Engineering certification and help launch Optima’s Raleigh office in 2013. Gary’s versatility, dedication, and service were an integral part of Optima’s growth. Under Gary’s leadership, the Raleigh office grew to nearly 30 staff members and he fostered many strong partnerships within the AEC industry, helping to solidify Optima’s presence in the Raleigh market.
Gary’s time at UNC Charlotte transformed his perspective and provided opportunities for him to be successful throughout his career. He was an exceptional engineer, mentor, and beloved friend whose career was marked by his commitment to his community, his profession, and the people around him. Gary’s designs placed careful interest on building systems that directly reduce the environmental impact of the buildings on the built environment. He helped design Optima’s first greenfield laboratory and went on to manage a number of notable and complex projects for K-12, higher-ed, mixed-use, commercial and municipal projects in our area.
Gary’s warmth, integrity, and dedication left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. During his 20 years at Optima, his willingness to share his expertise, talents, and enthusiasm helped shape a number of young engineers into emerging leaders who would go on to expand Optima’s footprint across the Carolina’s and beyond. Gary had a knack for empowering young engineers to lead with integrity and achieve success, thus helping them continue his legacy of shaping future leaders in the engineering industry.
A member of NSPE, USGBC, and ASHRAE, Gary’s professional accomplishments were only matched by his commitment to giving back. He supported causes close to his heart including the Helene Foundation, the National Lymphoma Society, and Note in the Pocket. Gary was also a passionate advocate for small businesses and downtown Raleigh, particularly during the challenges of COVID-19.
From the Kosten Family, “Gary was beloved by all of those who came in contact with him, especially during his time both at Optima Engineering and as a 49er at UNC Charlotte. Gary developed a passion for engineering and people from a young age, and it showed in his work and how he treated others. The Gary Paul Kosten Legacy Scholarship has been created to honor his heart for others and to lend a hand in building the next generation of Engineers who will create a better tomorrow.”
To make a donation towards Gary's Scholarship please click the link above as we greatly appreciate your consideration.
You can double or triple the impact of your gift if your employer participates in a matching gift program. To see if your employer has a matching gift program, click here. If your company matches, complete your matching gift form and submit it to UNC Charlotte via mail (UNC Charlotte Foundation, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223), fax (704-687-7259) or email (mwinslow@charlotte.edu).
