[034] MTSU STUDENTS ‘WIRED’ FUNDS TO STUDY THE SCIENCES

July 29, 2009
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919


MTSU STUDENTS ‘WIRED’ FUNDS TO STUDY THE SCIENCES

MURFREESBORO—Forty-five Middle Tennessee State University students from eight counties in southern Tennessee have received a $4,000 scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year to pursue study in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).
The counties include Franklin, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall and Maury.
“MTSU is very fortunate to be able to offer these scholarships to some very
talented students,” David Hutton, MTSU financial aid director, said.
The Tennessee Valley’s Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Scholarship was awarded from the U.S. Department of Labor to students in 23 total counties in Tennessee and Alabama. Recipients attend both two-year and four institutions.
The awarding of the scholarships is based on several criteria in addition to the geographic location. Students must be U.S. citizens or have a permanent status, must be enrolled full-time (12 hours) and maintain that status during the semester and must have a minimum 2.75 grade point average. They also must complete the required forms from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funds may be used for tuition, fees and books.
MTSU recipients will be required to visit the campus in mid-August to complete all the necessary paperwork. The funds support students pursuing associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees in STEM fields.
The WIRED grant was originally awarded in January 2007 from the U.S. Department of Labor and promotes education, workforce development and economic development in southern Tennessee and Northern Alabama. Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Ala., serves as the fiscal agent for the original $5 million grant and is responsible for administrative oversight of the project. In addition to the half-a-million dollars in scholarship funding, during the last two years, the grant has provided support for a number of innovative projects and programs throughout the 23-county region addressing WIRED’s major goals.
Other four-year schools that received WIRED allotments are Alabama A&M University, Martin Methodist College, and the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Motlow State Community College and Columbia State Community College are the only two-year schools in Tennessee that received WIRED funds.
For more information about the WIRED Scholarship, please contact the MTSU Office of Financial Aid at 615-898-2242.