FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/29/97
CONTACT: Laura Carlson-Weiner,
School of Engineering and Technology,
Development Director
(323) 343-4494
FAX: (323) 343-4555
Cal State L.A. Students Received $35,100 in Scholarships from the Federal Highway Administration's Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program
Los Angeles, California -- January 29, 1997 --- The School of Engineering and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles recently received a grant of $35,100 from the Federal Highway Administration to award five Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship Scholarships to qualifying engineering and business students studying transportation. The recipients were engineering students Bui Oanh, resident of Los Angeles; Eddie Curtis, resident of Covina; Sinaren Pheng, resident of Monterey Park; Stephen Khovananth, resident of West L.A.; and business student Penny Helderman, resident of Bell Flower.
The scholarship awards were granted to the School for a second consecutive year. This year's scholarships provided each student with $7,020 to cover the cost of student fees, a monthly stipend, project expenses, an on-site short-term assignment with a local transportation organization, and an out-of-state career exploration and orientation trip. The recipients have already attended the Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting in Washington, D.C.
These scholarships were awarded through the efforts of Pasadena resident Hassan Hashemian, professor of Civil Engineering at Cal State L.A., who also received an Eisenhower Faculty Fellowship to attend transportation conferences. Director of the fellowship program, Hashemian coordinates the application/award process, the set-up and placement of students in transportation internships, and acts as a mentor for the students.
In addition, Hashemian serves as faculty coordinator of the Cal State L.A. student chapter of Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), which aims to motivate students to choose the field of transportation as a career. Hashemian has brought in more than $500,000 in grants over the past three years to train and develop engineering students in the field of transportation. These grants were received from the following funding agencies: the Department of Transportation, Caltrans/Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration.
The objective of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship Program is to attract the nation's brightest minds in the fields of transportation and to prepare students for careers in transportation. The program also offers Post-Doctorate and Faculty Fellowships to enhance the careers of transportation professionals.
Applications are currently being accepted for the 1997-98 Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Scholarships. The deadline for application submission is February 15, 1997. For more information, call Cal State L.A. Professor Hassan Hashemian at (323) 343-4499.