Published Dec. 2009
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business staff
Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford tank operations contractor, is donating $500,000 to benefit local higher education programs at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College.
The majority of the money will support science, technology, engineering and mathematics efforts at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College.
The remaining portion will be used for general scholarships and local small business assistance through student internships. Each institution is receiving $125,000 this year. An additional $125,000 each will be awarded in 2010.
Quality higher education opportunities, especially in technical fields like science and engineering, are critical to the success of both our companys environmental cleanup mission and our communitys overall economic health and vitality, said Chuck Spencer, WRPS Project Manager.
WRPS, which is owned by URS Corporation and EnergySolutions, with integrated subcontractor AREVA, is a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Energys Office of River Protection and is responsible for reducing the risk posed by the waste stored in Hanfords aging underground tanks.
The company is working to transfer the waste stored in 149 leak-prone single-shell tankssome of which date back to World War IIto newer, safer double-shell tanks. It is also preparing for delivery of the waste to Hanfords Waste Treatment Plant where it will be converted to a stable glass form for permanent disposition.
Both WSU Tri-Cities and CBC are dealing with substantial cuts in state funding, yet enrollment demand is up, Spencer said. We want to help them maintain their programs as much as possible.
At WSU Tri-Cities, the initial $125,000 will address a number of needs, including upgrades of Energy and Environmental Laboratory equipment, student research projects in science and engineering, student internships to support local small businesses with a preference toward those in the technology of manufacturing sectors and those located within the Tri-Cities Research District, and general student scholarships.
This investment in WSU Tri-Cities benefits small businesses and employers in addition to our students by providing scholarships, undergraduate research, internships, and teaching laboratory development, WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein said. In these times of tightening budgets and a growing demand for education, WRPS is helping economic development on multiple fronts with this gift to our campus.
The CBC funds are targeted primarily for the colleges nuclear technology program re-established this past fall to train a new generation of workers in nuclear operations and radiation protection.
WRPS has committed to a base level of support for the program for five years through cash support, scholarships and student internships. Additional funding will be provided to allow expansion of the program and provide for some general scholarships as well.
The support from WRPS has been invaluable. Without the funds we could not have begun the program this fall quarter, said Donna Campbell, CBCs vice president for instruction. The initial donation was used for five full scholarships awarded to students enrolled in the Nuclear Tech program, and the remaining was used to purchase equipment needed to teach the class.
Spencer said as the contractors demand for technically trained personnel to grow in the years ahead, the company will continue to work with both WSU Tri-Cities and CBC to look for ways to help meet that need.