DAYTON, OH – April 17, 2014 – Riverside Research, a
not-for-profit company with facilities in Beavercreek, Ohio, awarded two
scholarships to Wilberforce University for the 2014-2015 academic year. The
scholarships are reserved for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.
“Our academic heritage and 47-year commitment to STEM education and training aligns perfectly with Wilberforce University’s mission and tradition of academic excellence and relevance,” said Richard Annas, Riverside Research President. “All of our university partnerships and community outreach efforts are founded on a shared vision to develop a strong, sustainable, and innovative technical workforce. We are indeed honored to build on our existing partnership with Wilberforce University.”
Riverside Research and Wilberforce University teamed up in 2011 to develop the community’s first Bachelor of Science degree program in Advanced Technical Intelligence (ATI) and Remote Sensing. All curriculum and instruction for ATI courses is provided by Riverside Research at the company’s Dayton Research Center in Beavercreek.
Dr. Wilma Mishoe, Acting Wilberforce President, accepted the
scholarship check alongside Dr. Edward Asikele, Dean of Research, Sponsored
Programs, and External Academic Relations.
“[ATI] is a career
field that is ‘wide open,’ offering tremendous possibilities for future growth
and development,” said Dr. Mishoe. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our
students to be introduced to, and excel in, a career field where far too few
have gone before. We are excited about our partnership with Riverside Research,
and are looking forward to a long-term working relationship with them in the
future.”“Our partnership with Riverside Research on the ATI degree program is an excellent addition to the curriculum at Wilberforce University,” added Dr. Asikele. “We plan to expand the collaboration to include STEM internships – especially in the field of Technical Intelligence –which will provide our students practical experience; as well as research collaboration with our students and faculty members. The scholarship award to our students is a major step in this direction.”
Also in attendance at the scholarship presentation was
Wilberforce alumna Carmen Dyer, an employee of the United States Air Force working
at Riverside Research under the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Education With
Industry (EWI) program. The 10-month EWI program pairs competitively-selected
Air Force officers and civil service employees with private sector companies
for on-the-job education and experience necessary for effective management and
professional or technical leadership.
“The EWI program brought my career full circle – from the
classroom to the workplace and back again,” said Dyer. “The opportunity to work
within Riverside Research’s Education and Training Division and support
Wilberforce University’s Electrical Engineering Department through the ATI
program has been extremely rewarding. This collaboration is charting an
exciting career path for prospective STEM professionals in a high-demand
area. I would encourage every eligible
student to apply for these scholarships.”
Candidate Wilberforce STEM scholars must be US citizens at
their junior level with a history of community involvement and a minimum 3.0
GPA maintained throughout the scholarship.
Riverside Research, a not-for-profit company chartered to advance scientific research in the public interest and in support of the United States government, is a nationally recognized leader in the development, presentation, and maintenance of DoD-approved course materials at all classification levels. As an industry member of the technical community and corporate citizen of the Dayton Region, Riverside Research provides mentor-guided internships, curriculum development, and adjunct professors to many Dayton-based colleges and universities, including Sinclair and Clark State Community Colleges, the University of Dayton, Wilberforce University, and the Air Force Institute of Technology. The company is also involved with the Dayton Regional STEM Center and was instrumental in establishing the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center for Human Capital Development.
About Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a small, private, coed, primarily residential, liberal arts university on 120 acres in Wilberforce, OH. Founded in 1856 and owned by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilberforce is the nation's first private university to be owned and operated by African Americans. Its mission is to help students identify and prepare for their respective purposes in life as global citizens by imparting knowledge, instilling discipline, and inspiring lifelong learning through critical inquiry, personal and spiritual development, and practical application. Wilberforce offers 17 undergraduate majors, one graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling, and an Adult Degree completion program known as Credentials for Leadership in Management Business (CLIMB). In 2008 Wilberforce was recognized as the leading educator of African American Engineering Graduates in the state of Ohio.
