By Leslie Streeter

Longenecker & Associates (L&A) has established a new engineering scholarship at Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities to support students interested in careers that support the important missions of the U.S. Department of Energy.

L&A has committed to providing $10,000 annually to support the new scholarship, which will be geared toward those studying engineering, cybersecurity, business or other fields related to environmental management and cleanup. L&A selected WSU Tri-Cities for the new scholarship given the university’s role in preparing students for work in the DOE’s nuclear cleanup program, especially at the Hanford Site in eastern Washington.

“More than 30 years ago, L&A got its start in the communities of eastern Washington state supporting DOE’s cleanup of Hanford,” L&A CEO John Longenecker said. “We’re excited now to help support WSU Tri-Cities students who may want to be part of this important work or aid the other vital missions of DOE.”

“As an R1 university that has a focus on energy, environment and agriculture, our high caliber engineering and applied sciences programs draw students and it’s the partnerships with our local DOE partners that gives them career connected learning and great job prospects after graduation,” commented Sandra Haynes, chancellor at WSU Tri-Cities. “We are grateful to L&A and their desire to support students on our campus allowing them to follow their dreams.”

L&A is a proud supporter of STEM education in communities near DOE sites. Along with WSU Tri-Cities, L&A helps to fund scholarships at Northern New Mexico College, the University of South Carolina-Aiken and Tennessee Tech University. L&A is also a strong supporter of the Roy G. Post Foundation, which provides scholarships for students pursuing careers in the safe management in nuclear materials.

“We’re committed to not only helping DOE today in its national security, environmental remediation and clean energy programs, but to building the next generation of workers and leaders necessary for continued progress and success,” Longenecker said.

Founded in 1989, L&A is a premier woman-owned small business that supports the DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration. L&A leverages its experience throughout the nuclear security and cleanup enterprise to improve mission performance, deliver capital asset projects to schedule and budget, implement effective governance approaches and develop targeted business strategies for both large and small businesses.