News Release

LeTourneau University has identified the first 18 recipients of scholarships made possible by a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant is designed to encourage incoming freshman students to study in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  Scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 each will be awarded to recipients over the next four years.

Scholarship recipients include two local students.    Kayla Fuller of Hallsville, Texas, and William Warke of Longview, Texas, both plan to study computer engineering. Other scholarship recipients who plan to study computer science engineering and/or mathematics include Michael Nash of Waxhaw, N.C.; Aaron Erlandson of Idyllwild, Calif.; Jonathan Kalkan of Sugar Land, Texas; Sean Grady of Davenport, Iowa; Daniel Markley of Mohnton, Penn.; Jennifer Sartin of Dayton, Texas; and Jarrett Sutter of The Woodlands, Texas.

Scholarship recipients who plan to study electrical engineering include Jordan Swavely of Boyerton, Penn; Benjamin Shondelmyer of Duncan, Okla.; Zachary Phillips of Conroe, Texas;  Nathan Mowery of Friona, Texas; Zach Hughes of Crowley, Texas; Ian Ferringer of Midwest City, Okla.; Benjamin Balasa of Franklin, Neb.; Christopher Howie of Irving, Texas; and Deena Peterson of Kandern, Germany.

Principal investigators on the S-STEM grant are assistant professor of engineering Dr. Joonwan Kim and associate professor of computer science Dr. Craig Varnell.

“This grant enables us to increase our enrollments in these fields, especially attracting those academically talented students who have a financial need that might otherwise preclude them from considering LeTourneau University,” Varnell said. 

 

To apply for the scholarship, applicants submitted a résumé listing their career goals and gave examples of how they were currently pursuing opportunities in their future field of study. They also took part in a panel interview and were in the top tier in their SAT and ACT scores.

LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christ-centered university offering academic majors in the aeronautical sciences, business, education, engineering, the humanities and sciences.  LeTourneau University also offers undergraduate degree programs in business, education and psychology and graduate programs in business and education and at education center in Austin, Bedford, Dallas, Houston and Tyler and online. Claiming every workplace in every nation as its mission field, LeTourneau University graduates are professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life’s work as a holy calling with eternal impact.