SDSU Selected Among Universities Nationwide to Receive GTE Grant
CONTACT: Timothy McKernan, (619) 594-5204, mckernan@mail.sdsu.edu;
Jenny Bourbiel, (858) 646-1812, jbourbiel@mobilnet.gte.com
SAN DIEGO, Thursday, March 9, 2000-Community college students from underrepresented groups interested in studying engineering at San Diego State University have received a boost from the GTE Foundation. SDSU, one of 15 universities in the nation to receive the GTE Foundation grant, will this summer begin implementing the "Bridge for Engineering Transfer Students," offering mentoring and other forms of support including internships and summer academic programs for community college students.
Fifteen students will receive assistance with the transition from community college to SDSU and the financial and counseling assistance to succeed in their first year.
"GTE chose San Diego State University's engineering department as the
recipient of this grant because of its reputation for soliciting a diverse student population from many smaller institutions," said Lindsey Burroughs, GTE Wireless of San Diego area president. "This grant will allow these students an opportunity to grow through academic programs aimed at SDSU."
"The GTE FOCUS grant helps us help bright students for whom a four-year degree may not otherwise be in the cards," said Theresa Garcia, director of SDSU's Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Engineering Program. "By beginning to prepare them academically before they enroll at SDSU, and providing internship opportunities earlier in their academic careers, we hope to increase the numbers of underrepresented groups, including women, in very challenging and rewarding fields."
Garcia added several other local companies are also enthusiastic about participating in the Bridge program, including Hewlett-Packard and the Sony Technology Center-San Diego.
"These are the types of companies that need us to prepare highly qualified graduates for a variety of high-tech jobs," Garcia added. "This program is good for all of San Diego."
The College of Engineering at San Diego State University offers bachelor's and master's degrees in Aerospace, Computer, Civil, Electrical, Environmental and Mechanical engineering. More than half of the engineers working in San Diego today received their degrees from SDSU.
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, master's degrees in 58 areas and doctorates in 11. The more than 30,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with professors and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.
GTE provides wireless telecommunications products and services to hundreds of thousands of San Diegans, with 11 wireless retail locations and 200 agent locations in San Diego County. GTE Wireless is the only San Diego carrier to operate an analog, CDMA digital, CDMA data, and Cellular Digital Packet
Data (CDPD) network. GTE Wireless provides wireless voice and data telecommunications services to more than 6.9 million customers in 18 states. GTE Wireless is a part of GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE).
The GTE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of telecommunications provider GTE Corporation, is one of the largest corporate contributors in the United States, providing $32 million in 2000 to charitable and educational institutions on behalf of GTE and its thousands of employees. More information on GTE and the GTE Foundation is available at http://www.gte.com.
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