AT&T is making a monetary contribution to benefit students in two SIU-Carbondale programs.
The telecommunications giant says it's providing the university with an Aspire Grant for Rising Scholars and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute's East St. Louis Metropolitan Leadership Institute.
AT&T's vice president for external affairs Jim Maurer presented the money Wednesday on the Carbondale campus. He says they're investing in educational programs to improve opportunities for today's students because AT&T is always looking for people who have good skills and are also good people.
"That's the type of folks we want. We spend a lot of time on customer service and making sure, we're trying to do the right thing by our customers. Therefore, we're going to go to those schools that we can work with that really make that an integral part of what they're teaching the kids. I'd love to see an SIU-Carbondale student that started out with us and worked through one of our stores and become a top manager with AT&T."
SIU-C Career Services director Doug Reichenberger says it's wonderful when a Fortune 10 company like AT&T puts its money where its mouth is and comes to campus to show interest in recruiting students.
"It's vitally important for us in Career Services to connect with these employers who are actively seeking graduates and helping them to make connections."
One of the student benefitting from the grant funding is freshman Rebecca Tompkins from Palos Park. The first generation college students says participating in the Rising Scholars' Saluki Summer Bridge program to Success before the fall semester helped ease her fears and make the transition smoother.
"I made friends, learned how to manage my time, met with some of the SIU staff, learned what it was like to have a roommate for the first time, and I even learned where all the buildings were before all the rest of the incoming freshmen. So, coming back here in the fall was like a walk in the park for me."
AT&T's grant funding this year totals $75,000, an increase over last year's contribution of $50,000.
