Funding helps bring more diversity into engineering field

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Pacific Power Foundation has donated $10,000 to Oregon State University Foundation to help increase the number of women and under-represented minority students applying to OSU’s College of Engineering.

"We are excited to help women and under-represented minority students throughout Oregon attend Oregon State University," said Doris Johnston, regional community manager for Pacific Power. "The College of Engineering plays an important role in the utility industry and we’re privileged to lend our support."

The project promotes engineering as a career choice for the diverse population of students throughout Oregon, including rural and geographically isolated areas. In addition, the project will work to strengthen participating teachers’ and career advisors’ knowledge of new ways to present engineering career opportunities and the required academic preparation in ways that resonate with underrepresented students.

"Pacific Power was instrumental in helping to launch this outreach and education program," said Ellen Momsen, director of the women and minorities in engineering program at Oregon State University. "We're so appreciative that the Pacific Power Foundation is a partner with Oregon State University in efforts to present engineering as a career option to Oregon students who may not have otherwise considered it, especially young women and minorities."

"The power industry needs engineers and this is the kind of effort that is going to bring bright, committed professionals into the industry," said Brett Allsup, managing director of engineering and asset management at Pacific Power.

This project seeks to promote a better understanding of the social relevance of engineering to Oregon students regardless of their career aspirations and to expand collaborations between the College of Engineering and Oregon school districts.

About Oregon State University Foundation

Oregon State University Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1947 to benefit Oregon State University. The foundation assets and earnings are distributed to colleges, departments and programs of the university per donor directions or, if funds are unrestricted, per the direction of the foundation's volunteer Board of Trustees in response to priority requests from the president of the university. As an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, the foundation provides donors the opportunity and appropriate tax advantage for supporting projects and programs that are beyond the scope of the University's general budget. For more information, visit www.oregonstateuniversityfoundation.org .

About the Pacific Power Foundation

The Pacific Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The Foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 1.7 million customers in six Western states as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California) and Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho). The foundation's mission, through charitable investments, is to support growth and vitality and improve the general welfare and quality of life in communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.

Media inquiries:
Doris R. Johnston, Regional Community Manager, Pacific Power: 541-967-6153
Deborah Hopkinson, Director of Foundation Relations, Oregon State University: 541-737-4218
newsdesk@pacificorp.com