Governor Blagojevich Launches Civil Engineer Scholarship Program

SPRINGFIELD - With a record number of civil engineers expected to retire within the next few years, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich is pleased to announce the Illinois Department of Transportation's first Civil Engineer Scholarship Program.  Scholarships provided as part of this new program will give selected students up to $7,000 per academic year as an incentive to continue their civil engineering education.

 

"We must begin to increase the interest in the rewarding field of engineering," said Governor Blagojevich.  "This scholarship gives us the opportunity to grow a diverse and quality workforce for the future and I encourage civil engineering students to look into this program."

 

This new scholarship program is for Illinois residents who are admitted to or enrolled full-time at select Illinois colleges and universities in a curriculum leading towards a degree in civil engineering.  Scholarship recipients may be given the opportunity to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) during summer breaks and could be offered full-time employment upon graduation.

 

The program utilizes federal transportation funds to enhance the diversity and quality of IDOT's civil engineering workforce.  IDOT may award up to 20 scholarships, each providing tuition assistance in an Illinois pre-engineering or engineering program on an annual basis.

 

Each scholarship recipient may receive up to $7,000 per academic year.  The scholarship program may provide support for up to five years per student.  Up to two years of graduate school may be included in those five years.

 

"Fewer and fewer college students in Illinois are choosing civil engineering as a career," said IDOT Secretary Milton R. Sees.  "It is up to us to encourage our youth and show them that no matter what their financial situation, higher education is an option and a career in engineering is attainable."

 

The application deadline is November 26, 2008 for the spring 2009 semester.  For additional information and to obtain an application, please visit the website at www.dot.il.gov/scholarships.

 

To obtain information for other financial assistance opportunities for college students, please visit the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website at www.collegezone.com.