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Engineering colleges at North Carolina A&T University, Prairie View A&M University, and Tuskegee University will receive $240,000 each over the next three years to support and develop a collaborative workspace.
According to Tuskegee University, the engineering schools will share $1 million from Fluor Corporation and Fluor Foundation's Engineering Scholar Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for a new Makerspace facility. The new laboratory will provide students a location equipped with tools, machines, and a conducive learning environment for professional growth. Fluor provides technical solutions, engineering, procurement, and construction services around the world.
“Dean Pamela Obiomon and I have worked to promote an environment conducive to advancement, growth, creativity, outreach, and discovery,” said Quincy Moore, director of Prairie View A&M University's Honors Program, who is leading the new program along with Obiomon, engineering dean of the Roy Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View. “Given this opportunity, we strive to engage civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering students with real discovery and create a learning environment that enhances learning and gives the students real-world experience for training the next generation of engineers.”
Tuskegee says it will also use the funds for student peer mentoring and to establish scholarships under Fluor Foundation's Global University Sponsorship Program.
“Tuskegee University is excited to come together in partnership with Fluor and its philanthropic arm, The Fluor Foundation, to enhance the quality of Tuskegee’s engineering programs,” said Dr. Benjamin Oni, interim dean of the College of Engineering. “This opportunity will help establish a collaboration with Fluor for active participation in the educational related activities within the College of Engineering.”
The program provides merit-based scholarships for civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering students, integration of experiential learning strategies, laboratory and creative workspace improvements, faculty professional development, and engineering student associations and groups.
"Fluor and the Fluor Foundation’s program will assist the universities’ science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs and students in further developing undergraduate research and capstone design projects,” said Torrence Robinson, president of the Fluor Foundation and senior director of Fluor Global Community Affairs.
As part of the Global University Scholarship program, seven merit-based scholarships will be awarded each year to civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering majors at Tuskegee who have sustained the legacy of academic excellence of the engineering programs.
“The scholarship recipients will benefit from professional development with Fluor engineers, as well as gaining enhanced engineering experience, which will allow our students to become more competitive for internship opportunities and the global market,” noted Oni, who is also professor and head of the electrical and computer engineering department at Tuskegee.
Under the terms of Fluor’s partnership, Oni added, Tuskegee can earn an additional $140,000 through dollar-for-dollar matching in coordination with external donors. “Alumni financial support is strongly encouraged, as this will allow our students to thrive in today’s competitive global engineering and construction industry,” he said.