Sikorsky Aircraft Invests in the Next Generation of Helicopter Engineers at the University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  November 11, 2011

CONTACT:
Melissa Corley
301 405 6501
mcorley@umd.edu

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—Sikorsky Aircraft, a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service headquartered in Connecticut, is partnering with the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland to develop the next generation of helicopter engineers.

Sikorsky has donated $110,000 in 2011 in support of programs for Clark School students, including two new scholarships, a fellowship for graduate students, and the establishment of the Sikorsky Aircraft Colloquium Series in Aerospace Engineering. Sikorsky is also a Clark School Corporate Partner. Through this program, Sikorsky provides further scholarship funds and support for student programs.

“Over many years, Clark School students have proven themselves to be just the kind of innovative thinkers who are most successful at Sikorsky,” said Mark Miller, Sikorsky’s vice president of research and engineering. “We have decided to make significant investments to create closer ties with top Clark School talent and expand our pipeline of interns, co-ops, and full-time employees.”

The Clark School is home to one of the nation’s leading programs in helicopter engineering. Clark School students earlier this year set U.S. records for the flight duration of a human-powered helicopter, and won the American Helicopter Society’s graduate student design competition for the tenth time in 13 years.

The Sikorsky Scholarship of $5,000 is awarded to one student in each of the Clark School’s aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering departments. This year, Beserat Debebe, Jennifer King and John Calderone were selected for these prestigious awards. The Sikorsky Endowed Scholarship, administered by the Clark School’s Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering, is open to undergraduates in the same departments. Scholarships of up to $3,000 each can be awarded for the first time next year.

Sikorsky also awards $1,000 scholarships through its participation in the Corporate Partner program. This year, scholarships were awarded to Nicole Anderson, William Dean, Zachary Felder, Jaclyn Rupert, and Danielle Wilmot.

The Sikorsky Fellowship, with a value of $10,000, is awarded to a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical, electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering. Timothy Fitzgerald, a mechanical engineering graduate student, was awarded the Sikorsky Fellowship in 2011.

“For many years, Clark School faculty members and students have developed close ties to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, and many graduates have gone on to leadership roles in the company,” said Clark School Dean Darryll Pines. “We collaborate on research, and are exploring ways to provide educational services to Sikorsky employees in strategic areas. We are especially grateful for Sikorsky’s generous support of our educational programs and our talented students, and are delighted to welcome Sikorsky to our family of Corporate Partners.”

The Sikorsky Aircraft Colloquium launched this spring and has featured four distinguished speakers. In the spring of 2012, the series will feature speakers who have worked on autonomous vehicles and the S97 Raider, the commercial model of the Collier Prize-winning X2 Demonstrator.

More Information: Sikorsky Lectures

About the A. James Clark School of Engineering

The University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering is a premier program, ranked among the top 20 in the world. Located just a few miles from Washington, D.C., the Clark School is at the center of a constellation of high-tech companies and federal laboratories, offering students and faculty access to unique professional opportunities.

Our broad spectrum of academic programs, including the world’s only accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program, is complemented by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, early hands-on educational experiences, and participation in national and international competitions.

The Clark School is leading research advancements in aerospace, bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, disaster resilience, energy and sustainability, and cybersecurity. From the universal product code to satellite radio, SMS text messaging to the implantable insulin pump, our students, faculty, and alumni are engineering life-changing innovations for millions. Learn more at www.eng.umd.edu.