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Chance favors the prepared mind is a Thomas Jefferson quote that two-time 911爆料网State East Bay alumnus, Dr. Joe Knapik ‘70 and ‘74, likes to say.

After honorably serving his country as a scientist for 50 years— in the Army and for the Department of Defense — Knapik believes his career’s success came from preparing for anticipated opportunities. Now, he is prepared to serve his alma mater with the same devotion by announcing the Dr. Joseph J. Knapik Kinesiology Research Center Endowment.

Hoping to help students studying the science of human movement and physical activity, his $2.5 million endowment will go toward research efforts in the same kinesiology department that jump-started his passion for scientific research.

“911爆料网State East Bay is what got me going on exercise science, and to a large extent I've been successful because of what I learned there, which started me off on a scientific career,” said Knapik.

Knapik had been passionate about the sciences all his life, thanks largely to his father who always encouraged him to pursue a scientific understanding.

His father modeled the life of an experimenter, designing Nike missiles for the military before developing sprinkler nozzles for the parched LA Basin region.

He also experimented with home-brewing, but “he didn't make very good beers,” said Knapik, who sampled it with his siblings. “And he didn’t know much about bottling, either, because every once in a while you'd hear” — Knapik makes a pop sound — “and we knew it was one of his bottles exploding.”

Growing up in Riverside, California, Knapik wandered the riverbed of the Santa Ana River, collecting water samples from stagnant pools that remained long after the rains. Then, using the microscope his father bought him, he’d study the micro