Featured in Technology Today (Volume 37, Issue 4), a quarterly publication of the Louisiana Transportation Research Center.
The fulfillment of LTRC’s expansive mission is made possible in part by the generous contributions of partners throughout our community and the transportation industry at large. The center recently received one such investment through a $25,000 grant from Bentley Systems, Inc., one of the nation’s leading infrastructure engineering software firms. This grant, presented by Mo Harmon, Bentley’s Director of Industry Strategy, is designed to enhance LTRC’s outreach initiatives in both K-12 and higher education over the next two years. The funds will be utilized in the following ways:
$15,000 will be distributed as $500 awards to Louisiana STEM teachers who have previously participated in LTRC’s AASHTO STEM Outreach Solutions program. These funds can be used to replenish the consumable supplies used in the hands-on classroom activities.
"The influence of the Bentley Grant will be felt across the entire state of Louisiana, from our K-12 STEM educators to graduate students and researchers at our Louisiana universities." - Dr. Tyson Rupnow, LTRC Associate Director of Research
The remaining $10,000 will be allotted to Louisiana civil engineering graduate students who are invited to present their research at academic conferences across the nation. Selected students will be awarded up to $1,000 scholarships to defray the travel costs associated with these presentations.
LTRC’s Sam Cooper, Ph.D., P.E., Tyson Rupnow, Ph.D., P.E., and Stacey Wilton were on hand to receive the award from Harmon. Dr. Rupnow is thrilled about the potential impacts of these funds on LTRC’s education outreach programs: “The influence of the Bentley Grant will be felt across the entire state of Louisiana, from our K-12 STEM educators to graduate students and researchers at our Louisiana universities. The LTRC Research Foundation is grateful to the Bentley Foundation for their support and looks forward to furthering research and STEM activities across the state!”