AUSTIN, Texas —The University of Texas at Austin on Monday (Sept. 11) announced that it has received a $300,000 donation from Nortel Networks.*
The gift was made through the Nortel Networks Foundation** and is designated for computer science and electrical and computer engineering scholarships and fellowships as part of the Nortel Networks Scholars Program. The announcement was made at a reception in the new Applied Computational Engineering and Sciences (ACES) building.
“We are deeply committed to working with UT Austin to meet the urgent need for engineering and computer science graduates in Texas,” said Pam Walrond, vice president of sales support, Enterprise Solutions, Nortel Networks.
“Our financial contribution — combined with our global Internet and communications leadership and our extensive capabilities in wireless, optical, local internet and eBusiness — will assist in increasing the flow of engineering and computer science graduates at UT Austin, and ensure that the state has an adequate supply of talented technology job candidates,” Walrond said.
UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences and the College of Engineering will receive $150,000 each. The funds will benefit 31 undergraduate students and 12 graduate students, who will receive $3,000 to $5,500 over a three-year period, as long as each student continues to fulfill the scholarship and fellowship criteria.
“Everyone is aware that the high tech industry is enormously impacted and constrained by the availability of high-quality trained workers in computer sciences,” said Dr. Ben Kuipers, chair of the department of computer sciences in the College of Natural Sciences. “The Nortel Networks scholarships and fellowships will help us attract, support and educate the very best future computer scientists.”
Francis Bostick, chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering, said the demand for more qualified engineers is just as great. “Engineering programs throughout the country find themselves under continual pressure to turn out more qualified engineers to satisfy the apparently insatiable need of today’s high-tech industries, especially in the fields of telecommunications and computer engineering.
“The generous donation by Nortel Networks makes it possible for us to attract and retain more of the very best students entering these fields of study, and we remain committed to provide the best possible education for those students in whom we entrust the future of our technical industries.”
Undergraduate scholarships were awarded based on grade point average, leadership roles and/or entrepreneurial activities, community involvement, interpersonal and teamwork skills and career interest in the telecommunications industry. Graduate fellowships were based on academic achievement, research capabilities and interest or relevance of research topic to the telecommunications industry.
Nortel Networks also sponsors its Scholars Program at other educational institutions around the world. Nortel Networks selects universities based on recruiting potential; curriculum offered in computer science, electrical engineering and computer engineering; valued relationships with faculty, staff and students; willingness to support Nortel Networks efforts to promote science and technology education through scholarships; and proximity to metropolitan areas near key branches of the corporation.
For information more information, Kay Thomas, director of corporate relations at the UT Austin College of Natural Sciences, (512) 475-8875 or e-mail thomaskay@mail.utexas.edu or see the Website: www.nortelnetworks.com
**The Nortel Networks Foundation is an internal Nortel Networks program to coordinate giving by Nortel Networks. The Nortel Networks Foundation is not a separately incorporated, charitable legal entity.
*Nortel Networks is a trademark of Nortel Networks
