SBC grant funds Engineers for Tomorrow program at Bradley

Peoria, Illinois . . .November 6, 2002 . . .Bradley University is helping to prepare engineers for careers with regional industries thanks to a $25,000 grant from the SBC Foundation.

The Engineers for Tomorrow program, started in 2001, is designed to attract students to careers in engineering and technology in an attempt to fill a shortage of technical talent in communities around the region with initial emphasis on Illinois and eastern Iowa. This Ògrow-your-ownÓ concept offers students financial incentives to begin or complete their degrees at Bradley and return to work in their hometowns. The program offers students 2/3 tuition scholarships (partially provided from community sources and valued in excess of $10,000 per year) at Bradley along with internships, summer jobs, and other work experiences within their hometown region.

"The generous funding of the SBC Foundation allows us to forge the collaborations between students, companies, and communities that are vital to building and retaining an educated workforce," said Dr. Richard Johnson, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at Bradley.

Richard Greene, coordinator of the program, works with engineers throughout the region to arrange presentations for high school and community college students to discuss careers in industrial & manufacturing engineering & technology, civil engineering & construction, electrical & computer engineering, and mechanical engineering. In addition, he coordinates tours of regional industries for students and works with companies to develop internships and senior projects.

The SBC Foundation is the charitable giving arm of SBC Communications Inc. and its family of companies. In 2001, SBC, through Foundation and corporate giving, donated nearly $99 million to support efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide. The Foundation places primary emphasis on supporting programs that help increase access to information technologies; broaden technology training and professional skills development; and effectively integrate new technologies to enhance education and economic development -- especially for underserved populations. SBC has been named among America's Most Generous Companies for two consecutive years by Worth Magazine (2000 & 2001).