University of Maryland Engineering Students to Award $10,000 to Baltimore Non-Profit V-LINC

On Monday, December 12, a University of Maryland (UMD) A. James Clark School of Engineering student class will award Baltimore non-profit V-LINC a $10,000 grant for their Custom Assistive Technology Program. The grant is made possible by a generous contribution from the Neilom Foundation. The course, Engineering for Social Change, now in its second year, introduces young engineering students to the ideas of social change and social entrepreneurship through the intersection of concepts from both engineering and philanthropy.

Part of UMD's Center for Engineering Concepts Development (CECD) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the course enables students to appreciate that there is more to engineering than just solving engineering problems, and inspires them to use their skills and mindset to practice social entrepreneurship to pursue engineering ideas that make a difference.

V-LINC’s mission is to create technological solutions that improve the independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. They change the lives of children and adults with all types of disabilities without regard to economic circumstances, age or severity of disability. It is V-LINC's aim to help people to be successful and independent at school, in the workplace, and at home.

This is the third $10,000 grant awarded through the UMD Engineering for Social Change course. Past recipients include FRESHFARM Markets for their FoodPrints Program and Bread and Water for Africa®.

WHAT: The University of Maryland Center for Engineering Concepts Development (CECD) will be awarding this semester's Neilom Engineering for Social Change Award of $10,000 to V-Linc during an event held Monday, December 12.

WHO: University of Maryland students, faculty and Angela Tyler, V-LINC's Volunteer Services Manager, will be on hand for the grant award ceremony.

WHEN: Monday, December 12, 2016 starting at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: University of Maryland Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, first floor, Kay Boardrooms (Room 1111/1107), 8228 Paint Branch Dr., College Park, MD 20742.

HOW: Media, please RSVP to Jennifer Rooks, Communications Coordinator, at either jfrooks@umd.edu or 301-405-1458.

Media should park in either the metered Paint Branch Visitor Lot or the Regents Garage Visitor Parking (top level). For a campus map and additional parking options, www.transportation.umd.edu/maps&apps.html.

For more information on the University of Maryland Center for Engineering Concepts Development (CECD), visit: http://cecd.umd.edu/

The Center for Engineering Concepts Development (CECD), established in 1998, is a platform for experimenting with new ideas in engineering education, future technologies, research, and the impact of engineering on society. The mission of CECD is to undertake activities to benefit the economic welfare of the state of Maryland and the Nation by supporting symposia, special groups, courses and innovative activities of contemporary interest.

Published December 8, 2016