DATE: July 26, 2005

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Bowie State Awarded Education Grant to Benefit Minority Science and Engineering Students

Lt. Governor Steele Joins U.S. Department of Education in Announcing Federal Grant for Bowie State University

Bowie, Maryland - President Calvin W. Lowe today joined Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele and Sally Stroup, U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education in announcing a $291,354.00 federal education grant for Bowie State University to fund a new Summer Research Graduate Preparatory program for science and engineering students. Michael McArdle, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Maryland's Higher Education Commission, Dr. Calvin W. Burnett, was also on hand for today's announcement that took place at Bowie State University's Center for Learning and Technology.

Today's presentation of $91,366.00 is the first installment of the three-year $291,354.00 grant under the U.S. Department of Education's Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program.

"This is a great day for Bowie State University, one of Maryland's cherished Historically Black Colleges and Universities," said Lt. Governor Steele. "The Governor and I commend the Bush Administration for their ongoing efforts to provide greater opportunities for our nation's HBCU's."

The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement program is designed to affect long-range improvements in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the number of qualified minorities, especially women, in science and technology careers. This year the program will award 38 new grants worth $3.7 million and 60 continuation grants totaling $4.9 million.

"These grants help ensure that minority students have the opportunity to pursue their interest in math and science through higher education and develop the skills they need to succeed in the 21st-century workforce," Secretary Spellings said.

"We thank the Bush Administration and the U.S. Department of Education for helping us contribute more minorities to the nation's vital needs for a technical workforce," said Dr. Calvin W. Lowe.