Representatives from Alcoa Fastening Systems in Carson presented a check from the Alcoa Foundation for $25,000 to California State University, Dominguez Hills Interim President Willie J. Hagan to continue and expand the university’s Alcoa STEM Scholarship for undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics(STEM)-related degree programs.

(Left to right) Eric Caesar, human resources manager and Bill Carrigan, director of operations at Alcoa Fastening Systems; California State University, Dominguez Hills Interim President Willie J. Hagan; and John Wilkins, interim dean of the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences.
Photo by Gary Kuwahara-CSUDH.

The Alcoa Foundation established the scholarship in the 2011-12 academic year with a $20,000 grant to the university. That first year awarded four $5,000 scholarships to junior and senior-level undergraduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who demonstrated financial need. This year’s grant increases to five the number of scholarships that will be awarded.

Given the annual tuition fee (not including books and other living expenses) to attend CSU Dominguez Hills is $5,472 for full-time students, the scholarship allows its recipients to have a nearly tuition-free year.

“We are truly grateful for Alcoa’s commitment to this university and our students,” Hagan said. “The Alcoa STEM Scholarship directly impacts student success by helping to remove economic obstacles so students can focus on their coursework and progress to graduation.”

CSU Dominguez Hills’s undergraduate programs in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer sciences, and computer technology, geology, information systems, mathematics, and physics provide students with opportunities to work closely with faculty and participate in research and professional conferences. Students majoring in these programs are predominantly Latino or African American, and women, segments of the population which are historically underrepresented in the sciences and seen as key to addressing the country’s shortage of individuals with skills and knowledge in STEM fields.

“We are proud to partner with CSUDH and support their students’ educational goals,” said Bill Carrigan, director of operations at Alcoa Fastening Systems in Carson. “We at the AFS Carson Facility believe that this is not only the right thing to do for our community but it, in turn, benefits our long-term business objectives as we continue to expand and grow into the future.”