August 27, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce Funding to Encourage STEM Studies at Bridgemont Community & Technical College

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced $617,500 in federal funding for the Bridgemont Community and Technical College to provide scholarships for talented students in its applied and engineering technology programs. The funding comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, which gives grants to colleges and universities to use toward scholarships. 

“Improving the STEM programs in our colleges and universities will open doors for our students and is vital for West Virginia to remain competitive in the global marketplace,” said Manchin. “This scholarship funding will provide first-time students in rural West Virginia with the skills necessary to succeed in finding good-paying jobs and can help lead to a stronger, more robust workforce across our great state.”

“Studying the STEM fields holds tremendous promise for West Virginia’s students. I have long believed that an education centered around strong math and technology skills will prepare our youngest generations with the necessary tools to compete in the global economy that is increasingly being driven by jobs in these fields,” said Rockefeller. “Investing in STEM is also a boon for our economy as those graduates who remain in West Virginia will help us grow a workforce that is part of our state’s economic future.” 

“This is a long term federal investment in young minds.  Investing in those, who live in rural areas, who may well be the first in their family to go to college, and who show an aptitude for STEM education, is bound to yield many fruitful returns for our economy,” said Rahall, who has worked to promote full funding for the National Science Foundation and is a member of the House Rural Education Caucus.  “Technologies that are so prevalent in every imaginable field of business and industry today naturally depend on a solid foundation in mathematics, engineering and the sciences.  For our country to maintain a competitive edge in the world marketplace, STEM education is a must in developing a modern workforce.”   

###