Department of Highways District 9

For Immediate Release
Feb. 14, 2008

Media contact: Allen Blair
Allen.Blair@ky.gov
(606) 845-2551
(606) 748-3716

 

Transportation Cabinet celebrates 60 years of nurturing aspiring engineers
Part of National Engineers Week observance, Feb. 17-23

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – As part of National Engineers Week, Feb. 17-23, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet celebrates the 60th anniversary of its scholarship program for aspiring engineers and the success of the Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network (KEEN), which introduces Kentucky school children to this vital field.

Each year the Transportation Cabinet awards 15 to 25 new scholarships to enable students to pursue bachelor's degrees in civil engineering at the University of Kentucky , the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University . In addition, the program allows students of Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to take pre-engineering courses en route to a bachelor's degree at one of the three larger universities.

To date, the cabinet has awarded nearly 1,700 scholarships, amounting to more than $12 million. The cabinet has about 80 scholarships in effect in a given year. Students who successfully complete degrees realize a benefit of up to $50,400.

Applications must be submitted by March 1. For information, contact the cabinet's scholarship program administrator, Jamie Bewley-Byrd, at (502) 564-3730 or e-mail at Jamie.BewleyByrd@ky.gov .

The KEEN program affords cabinet engineers an opportunity to visit schools throughout Kentucky to discuss applications of math and science in daily life and the opportunities and challenges presented in the field of engineering. The KEEN program follows many of the concepts required under the Kentucky Education Reform Act, including the Common Core of Learning concept and the application of basic skills in math and science as they relate to real life situations.

Each of the Transportation Cabinet's 12 district offices has a KEEN coordinator who works with local engineers to make presentations tailored to elementary, middle and high schools. Presentations are adapted to different age groups. Topics range from the work of engineers to computer applications and scholarship programs.

The KEEN program, first of its kind in the nation, was launched in 1991 as a result of efforts by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to recruit and retain transportation professionals. Since its implementation, KEEN has reached more than 68,000 students in the commonwealth.

For more information about KEEN in Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan counties, call the Department of Highways District 9 office at (606) 845-2551; or visit KEEN on the Web at www.transportation.ky.gov by clicking the “education” link.

The cabinet's scholarship application, qualifications and guidelines can also be found at that Web site, or link directly to it at transportation.ky.gov/scholarship . Visit www.eweek.org for more information on National Engineers Week.