South Carolina State University has received almost USD$1 million to assist students in the nuclear engineering field, from the National Nuclear Security Administration. The leaders at the Orangeburg school were presented the funds by Administration representatives last week.
Director of the university’s nuclear engineering program, April Hutton-Moorer said that approximately USD$641,000 will be put towards covering tuitions, books and other expenses over the next five years for selected undergraduate students in the MOX Scholars program enrolled in nuclear, electrical and civil engineering, mechanical engineering technology and computer science programs. Approximately USD$302,000 will be used for a summer program to expose high school students to careers in the nuclear engineering field over the next three years.
MOX Scholars program students will have paid summer internships at the MOX fuel fabrication facility, currently under construction at the Savannah River site. The facility will convert weapons-grade plutonium into fuel that can be used to power commercial reactors. The program was launched by S.C. State in 2007 with a USD$654,000 five-year grant from the NNSA which has gone to aid 16 students; 12 who have graduated and four who are still enrolled at the school. OF the graduates, nine are currently employed at the MOX facility.