Elizabethtown College awarded NSF grant to support STEM programs

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ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (12/19/2013)(readMedia)-- Elizabethtown College recently was awarded a $531,885 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the Engineering Practices with Impact Cohort (EPIC) Scholarship for High Achieving Women in Engineering program.

This selective scholarship is specifically offered to academically talented women who have interest in the College's ABET-accredited engineering program. ABET, or Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology.

ABET accredits programs at colleges and universities and provides specialized, programmatic accreditation that evaluates an individual program of study, rather than evaluating an institution as a whole.

The College's EPIC scholarship program falls in line with the STEM Educate to Innovate initiative promoted by the Barack Obama administration this spring. The initiative intends to provide students at all levels of education in fields of study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as a means to improve the nation's competitiveness in these areas. The campaign includes the efforts of leading companies, foundations, nonprofit organizations, science and engineering societies and, like Elizabethtown College, institutions of higher education.

The Elizabethtown College EPIC scholarship program, under the direction of Sara A. Atwood, assistant professor of engineering and physics, and Kurt M. DeGoede, professor of engineering and physics, serves up to four scholars per year, each receiving up to $10,000 each academic year for all four years at Elizabethtown. Their total amount will be based on financial need.

Each EPIC scholar will have expanded opportunities for Signature Learning Experiences and professional mentoring from STEM employers and graduate programs. They will reside on campus in the Partners In Engineering (PIE) Living/Learning Community. As part of the scholarship, the students also will have fully funded summer research opportunities and access to Elizabethtown's Engineering Co-op program.

To qualify for the scholarship, the student must maintain a 2.75 grade point average.

Application deadline for the EPIC scholarship is Feb. 1. http://www.etown.edu/depts/physics-engineering/epic-scholarship.aspx The NSF award is effective until May 31, 2018.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Harvey

Communications Manager

Marketing and Communications

Elizabethtown College

harveye@etown.edu

717-361-6412 (o)

717-371-2631 (c)

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