Momentum: Volume 7, issue 1 Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering: Momentum | Page 11

MOMENTUM • VIRGINIA TECH MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 11

Nuclear engineering minors claim four scholarships from the Department of Energy

Four Virginia Tech students are part of a small nationwide cohort to receive University Nuclear Leadership Program ( NLP ) scholarships from the Office of Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy ( DOE-NE ) to advance their studies in the field of nuclear engineering .
Since 2009 , the DOE has awarded more than 1000 scholarships and fellowships totaling approximately $ 60 million to students pursuing nuclear energy-related degrees .
Adam Berlinerman , a senior mechanical engineering major , is receiving the scholarship for a third consecutive year . He hopes to the education he ’ s receiving to work for a national lab conducting research on molten salt reactors , an advanced reactor company in their R & D department , or as a legislative technical staffer .
Berlinerman
Fellow Mechanical Engineering major Courts Breeden joins the cohort this year . Breeden ’ s goal after he finishes his studies is to do military contracting work with Nuclear power , possibility designing the reactors that go into aircraft carriers .
Manfred
Breeden
Materials Science and Engineering major Cole Manfred is also receiving a scholarship . Manfred hopes to apply his nuclear engineering education toward radiation and plasma effects on materials in future research .
Chemical Engineering major Benjamin Newhouse is the final recipient of this year ’ s scholarship . Newhouse places his focus on the industrial process
Newhouse of nuclear engineering , and he will also be participating in an internship at BWXT Nuclear Operations Group in Lynchburg this summer . His focus there will be on nuclear fuel processing , a field that brings together his interests .
The Virginia Tech Nuclear Engineering program has experienced steady growth in recent years , expanding from a graduate-only program to include an undergraduate minor . Each of the scholarship winners in this year ’ s group are nuclear engineering minors .
According to the program website , the DOE annually awards more than $ 5 million through the University Nuclear Leadership Program , distributed in undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to students pursuing nuclear engineering degrees and other nuclear science and engineering programs relevant to nuclear energy . Undergraduates at 4-year institutions receive a $ 10,000 award to help cover education costs for the upcoming year .