Four Kennesaw State students awarded scholarships from U.S. Department of Energy

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 9, 2022

The U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy awarded four Kennesaw State students scholarships through its University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP) for the upcoming school year.

Photo

The program aims to invest in the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers, and the following students, all in the , represent 石榴直播 as award winners: Simon Bratescu, Kofi Owusu, Evan Pudlo and Anthony Schanie.

鈥淭hese DOE scholarships are a wonderful opportunity to reward our talented students who are passionate about the field of ,鈥 Lori Lowder, SPCEET鈥檚 associate dean for academic affairs, said. 鈥淭he funds allow students to earn a minor in nuclear engineering that they may not otherwise be able to obtain. The scholarship and minor make a SPCEET graduate more competitive for positions in an industry where there is a need for future leaders who will develop innovative nuclear engineering solutions.鈥

The scholarships can be used toward students鈥 tuition, books and fees for the 2022-2023 school year.

鈥淚 am extremely proud of our students who were honored with this prestigious scholarship,鈥 said Eduardo Farfan, professor of nuclear engineering in the . 鈥淭he nuclear power industry faces an aging workforce, and the DOE鈥檚 support of our undergraduate students will promote the transfer of knowledge to the next generation.鈥 

For Schanie, the scholarship will ease the burden of paying for tuition and give him a desired connection with the DOE. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and aspires to work for one of the DOE national laboratories to innovate new nuclear technologies. 

鈥準裰辈, its faculty members and my peers in the Kennesaw Nuclear Society have been very helpful in reaching my educational goals by investing in me and supporting me,鈥 Schanie said. 

Bratescu, who is also a member of the , said the scholarship will allow him to focus more on his studies and become more involved in research groups at Kennesaw State.

鈥淎ll of the professors I鈥檝e met thus far at 石榴直播 have challenged me to think in different ways and expand on my ideas,鈥 he said. 鈥淭heir efforts have greatly helped me as I become more involved in my nuclear coursework.鈥

Pudlo said several of his professors, including Farfan, have been instrumental in opening his eyes to opportunities in the nuclear engineering field. 

鈥淚 am grateful for this scholarship, which will allow me to focus on my studies without the added pressure of working during the upcoming school year,鈥 Pudlo said. 

According to the UNLP, nuclear energy currently provides about 20 percent of the country鈥檚 electricity and 52 percent of its clean energy. The federal government set new goals for the United States to reach 100 percent clean electricity by 2025 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

鈥淭he DOE is empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers who can find nuclear energy solutions that ultimately lower emissions with even greater performance than today鈥檚 very capable technologies,鈥 said Andrew Griffith, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy.

鈥 Abbey O鈥橞rien Barrows


Related Stories

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 石榴直播 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.