AT&T gives $10K to Riverland College for STEM scholarships
Published 8:09 am Wednesday, September 27, 2017
- Riverland President Dr. Adenuga Atewologun and AT&T Minnesota State President Paul Weirtz (center) along with RCC faculty and recipients of the STEM scholarship. Michael Stoll/mike.stoll@austindailyherald.com
Company wants graduates prepared for 21st century careers says its Minnesota state president
AT&T donated $10,000 to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarships for Riverland Community College students on Tuesday.
The gift was given to the Riverland Community College Foundation and will be divided between 10 students, each receiving a $1,000 scholarship.
AT&T Minnesota State President Paul Weirtz handed a giant symbolic check to RCC President Dr. Adenuga Atewologun during a ceremony in the college’s library.
“AT&T is committed to helping advance the education of our young people, particularly in
the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” Weirtz said. “We are proud to once again support Riverland’s scholarship program and help more students receive the STEM education they need to be prepared for careers in the 21st century.”
“We are honored to continue this partnership with AT&T and provide scholarships to students with a high financial need pursuing STEM careers,” Atewologun said. “Riverland students still face financial obstacles as they work toward their dreams of obtaining a college education.
“These scholarships supported by AT&T reward more hard-working students with some of the finances needed to pursue careers in high-demand and high-paying STEM professions.”
Tuesday’s donation marked the third time AT&T has donated to
the Riverland STEM scholarship. AT&T
donated $13,000 in 2014 and 2015.
“With baby boomer retirements in full swing, local businesses and industry are faced with a skills gap that requires workers to obtain greater education and training to match the requirements of emerging jobs, especially in STEM-related careers,” Weirtz said. “More and more, community colleges are an important link to developing the workforce that will help grow strong local economies.”
“The new economy is a knowledge economy,” Atewologun said. “These scholarships will cut down on the number of hours these students will have to work and increase their time to study. We know our students will benefit.”
