TEANECK, N.J., Sept. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Fairleigh Dickinson University has been named the recipient of a $112,000 grant from the Toyota USA Foundation for the school's Technology Enrichment and Outreach Program (TEOP). The grant was one of four Foundation awards, totaling $498,469 announced this month.
The grant will underwrite the first year of an expanded, multi-year program designed to strengthen and enhance the math and science skills of New Jersey high school students.
"We are very pleased to partner with New Jersey's largest private university in this math and science outreach program," said Patricia Pineda, Group Vice President, Corporate Communications and General Counsel, of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "This school has a long record of successful K-12 educational outreach programs in the state."
"The Toyota USA Foundation's board of directors was especially impressed with the University's goal of placing special emphasis on reaching middle-grade range minority, women and financially-disadvantaged students with this program," she added.
Upon notification of the award Dr. Alfredo Tan, Director, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Fairleigh Dickinson University said, "It is gratifying to know that others share our concern about the under representation of minorities and women in the diverse field of engineering. Minority and disadvantaged high school students in our region will now have the opportunity to be exposed to new engineering technologies, computer sciences, and new math initiatives that will encourage and inspire them to pursue careers in these fields."
Dr. Tan added, "We are extremely grateful to the Toyota USA Foundation for funding Fairleigh Dickinson University's Technical Enrichment and Outreach Program. It is very rewarding to be able to address a national issue with local programming."
Developed by the School of Computer Science and Engineering, TEOP will engage a total of 60 upper-level high school students from Paterson and Hackensack, selected by their science teachers to attend 12 Saturday sessions of technical instruction and hands-on laboratory work under the direction of university faculty, staff and graduate students.
Joining Fairleigh Dickinson in receiving Foundation awards are Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Science Buddies, Carmel, CA and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, VA.
The Toyota USA Foundation is a $40 million charitable endowment created to support innovative education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States, with special emphasis in the areas of mathematics and science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation.