Collin seeks applicants for ‘smart’ Scholarships

Feb. 2, 2005 – Recently, a new scholarship program began at Collin County Community College District (“Collin”) thanks to a $1 million dollar endowment from Texas Instruments (TI). Now the college is encouraging local students to apply.

The Science, Math, Advanced Research, Technology (SMART) Educational Initiative provides Collin with scholarships for academically qualified students who intend to pursue four-year degrees in engineering and related fields. The objective is to fuel a pipeline of highly skilled professionals in careers in science, math, computer science and engineering disciplines.

The first tier of the program is designed to provide scholarships for selected Plano Independent School District juniors and seniors who concurrently enroll in math, science, pre-engineering or engineering courses at Collin. In the second tier of SMART, additional support will be provided for freshmen and sophomores already enrolled in high-tech courses who also have dual admissions with The University of Texas at Dallas. 

            “We are honored to be the recipient of TI’s generosity. Through the SMART initiative, the district will make a significant impact on the region’s future scientific and technological workforce,” said Sam Roach, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees.

According to Collin President Cary Israel, the endowment comes at a time when many students do not have the resources to obtain a college education. “TI’s historic gift helps cement the value of Collins’s outstanding instruction in math, science and engineering.  It will allow Collin to open doors and tear down barriers that keep students from pursuing a college education.” 

Additional information on the scholarship is provided online through a Question and Answer document. To apply, students should complete the online application and contact Wayne Jones at wjones@ccccd.edu or 972.377.1715 for more information.

Page maintained by Marisela Cadena-Smith. For more information about this press release, contact Public Relations at 972.758.3895.