2008 Woodie Awards
Scholarship to promote engineering
Program to reward good grades with free tuition
Sierra Kelly
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
USC freshmen in fall 2008 pursuing engineering and computing degrees will now have the opportunity to attend USC tuition free.
Michael Amiridis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, said the new Engineering and Computing Expanded Life Scholarship (ECELS) program means that a minimum of 100 freshmen already eligible for the South Carolina Life scholarship can attend the university tuition free.
"It is our goal to make education accessible and affordable to more students, and this program is a major step in that direction," Amiridis said.
After freshman year, a student's tuition will be covered if he or she maintains the 3.0 GPA required for the LIFE scholarship and continues to major in engineering in computing. The program is expected to provide about $5,400 in scholarships per student.
Deepal Eliatamby, an alumnus of the college and a leader in the effort to fund the ECELS programs, said his education gave him the tools and foundation to lead a productive life and make a difference in his community.
"This scholarship program is a continuation of what has been done for me," Eliatamby said. "Students who earn their engineering and computing degrees in South Carolina are more apt to stay here and help our state grow."
Eliatamby came to the university in 1984 from Sri Lanka and earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree. After graduation he established Alliance Consulting Engineers Inc., an engineering firm in Columbia.
Rep. Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives and one of the strongest advocates of the LIFE Scholarship said the motivation for the scholarship is increasing the amount of people in the engineering and computing fields.
"To successfully build a knowledge-based economy in our state, we need the best and brightest driving our workforce," Harrell said. "This plan builds on the scholarship enhancements for S.C. students majoring in math, science and engineering that the General Assembly passed last year."
Justin Cooper, a fourth-year psychology student, said he thinks the new scholarship is good for engineering students, but has left students pursuing other degrees out in the cold.
"I think that is a great idea for engineering students," Cooper said. "My roommate is an engineering student and he spends most of his nights in Swearingen. However, they should not forget those outside the engineering program, who even with the LIFE scholarship, may be struggling to pay college tuition."
Scott Campbell, a second-year economics student, said the idea should draw more students to Carolina. He said engineering is a tough field of study.
For more information on the ECELS scholarship, visit www.engr.sc.edu.
Michael Amiridis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, said the new Engineering and Computing Expanded Life Scholarship (ECELS) program means that a minimum of 100 freshmen already eligible for the South Carolina Life scholarship can attend the university tuition free.
"It is our goal to make education accessible and affordable to more students, and this program is a major step in that direction," Amiridis said.
After freshman year, a student's tuition will be covered if he or she maintains the 3.0 GPA required for the LIFE scholarship and continues to major in engineering in computing. The program is expected to provide about $5,400 in scholarships per student.
Deepal Eliatamby, an alumnus of the college and a leader in the effort to fund the ECELS programs, said his education gave him the tools and foundation to lead a productive life and make a difference in his community.
"This scholarship program is a continuation of what has been done for me," Eliatamby said. "Students who earn their engineering and computing degrees in South Carolina are more apt to stay here and help our state grow."
Eliatamby came to the university in 1984 from Sri Lanka and earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree. After graduation he established Alliance Consulting Engineers Inc., an engineering firm in Columbia.
Rep. Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives and one of the strongest advocates of the LIFE Scholarship said the motivation for the scholarship is increasing the amount of people in the engineering and computing fields.
"To successfully build a knowledge-based economy in our state, we need the best and brightest driving our workforce," Harrell said. "This plan builds on the scholarship enhancements for S.C. students majoring in math, science and engineering that the General Assembly passed last year."
Justin Cooper, a fourth-year psychology student, said he thinks the new scholarship is good for engineering students, but has left students pursuing other degrees out in the cold.
"I think that is a great idea for engineering students," Cooper said. "My roommate is an engineering student and he spends most of his nights in Swearingen. However, they should not forget those outside the engineering program, who even with the LIFE scholarship, may be struggling to pay college tuition."
Scott Campbell, a second-year economics student, said the idea should draw more students to Carolina. He said engineering is a tough field of study.
For more information on the ECELS scholarship, visit www.engr.sc.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sharon Ilderton
posted 2/14/08 @ 8:27 PM EST
That is great for the new incoming students ,why not extend this plan for ALL engineering students on campus that meet the GPA requirements and are majoring in engineering. (Continued…)
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