Tufts University receives $60,000 grant from Verizon to build engineering program
Officials from the Verizon Foundation recently announced the organization has donated $60,000 to Tufts University to further the institution's educational programs.
The grant was issued to the school's Center for Engineering and Education Outreach sector, and will be used to organize an 18-month program to promote potential engineering careers for local fourth- and fifth-grade students.
The program will feature 10 teachers that have attended engineering workshops, as well as two undergraduate students available for mentoring. At the completion of the program, Tufts officials will issue between 20 and 40 scholarships to students to attend a summer engineering program intended for girls.
"We’re in the planning stages right now, recruiting teachers and planning out the work for this summer," said Merredith Portsmore, the director of outreach programs at the Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach.
For universities and other institutions, receiving grants is not a new trend. Many major companies have been donating funds. As a result, these institutions have upgraded many areas, including technology, adopting such items as smartboards, high-tech computers and HDMI projectors in their classrooms.
Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and Lowe's are all among those companies donating funds.
