KENNESAW, Ga.
(Jun 9, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy awarded four Kennesaw
State students scholarships through its University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP)
for the upcoming school year.
The program aims to invest in the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers,
and the following students, all in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET), represent KSU as award winners: Simon Bratescu, Kofi Owusu, Evan Pudlo and Anthony
Schanie.
“These DOE scholarships are a wonderful opportunity to reward our talented students
who are passionate about the field of nuclear engineering,” Lori Lowder, SPCEET’s associate dean for academic affairs, said. “The funds allow
students to earn a minor in nuclear engineering that they may not otherwise be able
to obtain. The scholarship and minor make a SPCEET graduate more competitive for positions
in an industry where there is a need for future leaders who will develop innovative
nuclear engineering solutions.”
The scholarships can be used toward students’ tuition, books and fees for the 2022-2023
school year.
“I am extremely proud of our students who were honored with this prestigious scholarship,”
said Eduardo Farfan, professor of nuclear engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “The nuclear power industry faces an aging workforce, and the DOE’s support of our
undergraduate students will promote the transfer of knowledge to the next generation.”
For Schanie, the scholarship will ease the burden of paying for tuition and give him
a desired connection with the DOE. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering
and aspires to work for one of the DOE national laboratories to innovate new nuclear
technologies.
“KSU, its faculty members and my peers in the Kennesaw Nuclear Society have been very
helpful in reaching my educational goals by investing in me and supporting me,” Schanie
said.
Bratescu, who is also a member of the KSU Journey Honors College, said the scholarship will allow him to focus more on his studies and become more
involved in research groups at Kennesaw State.
“All of the professors I’ve met thus far at KSU have challenged me to think in different
ways and expand on my ideas,” he said. “Their efforts have greatly helped me as I
become more involved in my nuclear coursework.”
Pudlo said several of his professors, including Farfan, have been instrumental in
opening his eyes to opportunities in the nuclear engineering field.
“I am grateful for this scholarship, which will allow me to focus on my studies without
the added pressure of working during the upcoming school year,” Pudlo said.
According to the UNLP, nuclear energy currently provides about 20 percent of the country’s
electricity and 52 percent of its clean energy. The federal government set new goals
for the United States to reach 100 percent clean electricity by 2025 and net-zero
carbon emissions by 2050.
“The DOE is empowering the next…
Read More: Four Kennesaw State students awarded scholarships from U.S. Department of Energy