SIUE’s Robinson Making the Most of his STEM Education Thanks to Department of Defense
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sophomore Bryan Robinson has envisioned himself appearing in a feature role on the television series, “24,” where he’s working under duress to help save the world from an impending enemy, using only his technology skills to do it!
The computer engineering major’s imagination and drive are fueled by his interest in and love for technology, and gratefully, his education at SIUE is being financed by the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
“I was excited and thankful to learn I had won the scholarship,” said Robinson, who has a 3.7 GPA and is part of SIUE’s Goal-Oriented African American Men Excel (GAME) student group. “The scholarship includes my full tuition, $1,200 annually for health insurance, $1,000 annually for books, supplies and etc., and a $25,000 stipend given annually.” He received the four-year scholarship in April and began using it in the Fall 2020 semester. The scholarship will expire at his expected graduation date in May 2023.
“It is common for the Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR) Office to empower students and assist them with information that enables their retention,” said Earleen Patterson, PhD, SOAR director. “Bryan Robinson is someone who makes SIUE proud. He is extremely focused, determined and committed to his education. We salute Bryan and were happy to assist him as he competed for and received the Department of Defenses’ SMART Scholarship.”
Eligibility requirements of the SMART scholarship include being:
- A student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Pursuing a technical undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the 21 STEM listed disciplines
- Willingness to accept post-graduation employment with the DoD
“The scholarship also affords the opportunity for me to intern at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis,” noted Robinson. “I will earn an additional $1,000 weekly and the ability to work there post-graduation.”
Robinson expects to begin interning after the spring 2021 semester. Part of his program requirements include participating in the 10-week internship until his graduation.
“The internship will give me mentor opportunities and real hands on experience with different areas of my study,” detailed Robinson. “During the internships, I’ll have the option to explore different departments, such as artificial intelligence, cyber security and more.”
After graduating, Robinson will be required to work at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for as many years that he received SMART scholarship benefits.
“The internship is my dream job,” he confided. “I already love it, so I will have no problem working there after graduation.”
“This scholarship confirms what so many of us have said since we first met Bryan,” added Howard Rambsy II, PhD, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of English Language and Literature. “He is thoughtful, highly motivated, and on his way to doing big and bigger things. I’m glad to be a witness.”
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Bryan Robinson, a sophomore majoring in computer engineering, is the recipient of a 2020 Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).