SOCHE Receives $8.5 Million Award from Air Force for Student Research Program
Dayton, Ohio, January, 28, 2009- The Department of the Air Force awarded the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) a cooperative agreement for the Student Research Program valued up to $8.5 million over a period of 75 months. In SOCHE's twenty-two-year history of administering federal research projects, this cooperative agreement is by far the largest for the SOCHE Student Research Program.
SOCHE's Student Research Program provides research internships for approximately 90 undergraduate and graduate students from the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. The students work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and the Air Force Institute of Technology. Students benefit both academically and financially by working in state-of-the-art laboratories with top professionals in their field. Additionally, students use this experience for senior projects, cooperative education, and graduate research. The Air Force receives the benefit of top students who bring energy and new ideas to research projects at WPAFB.
Marcia Hutcheson, director of the Student Research Program, said of the new agreement, "We are thrilled for all the current students in the program, as well the government's confidence in SOCHE to create new opportunities for students."
Sean Creighton, executive director of SOCHE, said, "This federal award helps address the goals in Ohio's Strategic Plan for Higher Education by building the talent pool in our region through experiential learning, and by preparing graduates to move into permanent positions at Wright-Patt after graduation."
Formed in 1967, SOCHE is a consortium of over 20 public and private colleges and universities dedicated to advancing higher education in the region through active collaboration, resource and knowledge building, and effective professional development programs. For more information about SOCHE and the Student Research Program, visit http://www.soche.org. For more information about DaytonCREATE, visit http://www.daytoncreate.org