By LEE TANT, T&D Staff Writer Tuesday, June 09, 2009
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Recruiting more women and minority students into science and researching ways to maintain the environment are the top goals of the Savannah River Environmental Sciences Field Station, which is managed by South Carolina State University.
The nation's largest retail chain sees eye-to-eye with that mission, Wal-Mart spokesman Chris Neeley says.
In fact, Wal-Mart thought so much of what the university is doing that it presented S.C. State with a $150,000 grant Monday to increase research opportunities and course offerings at the station. The donation is the largest made by Wal-Mart this year to any entity in the state.
Denise Grant, station director, says the program expands students' career options by giving them real-world field experience. Students in the program are in prime position to score jobs in the environmental science and natural resources fields, Grant said.
One course examines chemicals used to treat wastewater. Grant said students there are trying to discover more environmentally-friendly ways to purify water.
Now armed with more funding, Grant believes the station's footprint will be even larger.
"I don't even think they (the students) realize the opportunities," she said.
Grant said special topics such as environmental sustainability can be addressed thanks to the grant.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the station program has student participants from institutions across South Carolina such as Voorhees College, Claflin University and the University of South Carolina.
President Dr. George Cooper said the grant not only helps S.C. State but the entire state.
The station can now purchase more equipment and chemicals, he said. Cooper noted that students will have a more meaningful experience because of the station's new research capabilities.
"These funds will enable us to strengthen our program and attract more students from underrepresented groups," he said.
In his first year as the university's leader, Cooper has made it a point to seek out corporate partnerships. Meetings with executives from companies like Michelin and BMW are commonplace in his schedule.
Brandishing a large ceremonial check from Wal-Mart in his left hand, Cooper acknowledged the new partnership as the first victory in this effort. He's crossing his fingers that others will follow.
"Hopefully, it will encourage others to invest in us," Cooper said.
Neeley said the decision to award S.C. State the grant was easy because it assisted education and the environment.
"This is just the beginning of a long-term relationship with S.C. State," he said.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at
ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.
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