The ScholarPOWER Program
Today's Scholars.Tomorrow's Engineers
Established in 2001 as a constellation of training, incentives and awards to promote scholarly achievement and retention within the student community, ScholarPOWER is the most recent addition to a comprehensive suite of educational support services for students in the U-M College of Engineering. Coordinated by the Multicultural Engineering Programs Office (MEPO), ScholarPOWER is a unique program that provides training for academic, personal and professional development; introduces students to new methods and tools for learning; and rewards and celebrates optimal academic performance. The ultimate goal is to help students advance and excel at every level and in every realm of activity. Currently, there are three major program initiatives:
- ScholarPOWER Banquet is an annual celebration, typically held in February, honoring top scholars in a wide range of engineering disciplines. As part of the awards ceremony, students have an opportunity to interact with eminent guests that include leading business executives and professional engineers.
- ScholarPOWER Forums are educational workshops that use interactive, multimedia technology to address a wide range of subjects with a direct bearing on academic achievement. Recent topics have included improving grade point averages; finding the right internship; time management; test preparation and study skills; conflict management; and team building.
- Tutoring and Mentoring programs
The Need for Corporate Support
ScholarPOWER is part of a College-wide effort to improve retention rates within the student community, and corporate support is an integral part of this effort. The ScholarPOWER program depends in large part on the generosity and interest of corporate donors. Business organizations can choose to support one or more initiatives designed to promote and reward scholarly achievement.
Gift Opportunities
Corporate partners have an array of options:
- ScholarPOWER Banquet sponsorship
$50,000 Naming of banquet ("2007 ScholarPOWER Banquet, presented by ABC Corporation"), full-page back cover ad in banquet program, 6 complimentary tickets, plus all the benefits accruing to MEPO Corporate Advocates. [Note: An endowment gift of $1 million would name this event in perpetuity]
$10,000 Full-page ad in banquet program, 4 complimentary tickets, plus all the benefits accruing to MEPO Corporate Affiliates
$5,000 Half-page ad in banquet program, 2 complimentary tickets
$3,000 Corporate listing in banquet program and 1 complimentary ticket
- Underwriting for ScholarPOWER Educational Forums, offered weekly during the academic year. These forums are videotaped and broadcast and usually involve sponsoring company engineers and/or executives as speakers. Each sponsored forum will carry the name of the donor with the company logo prominently featured on the set. ($4,500)
- Discretionary program support in any amount to help defray the costs of professional staff, seminar facilities and interactive learning technology.
- In-kind contributions of supplies and equipment, as needed or requested [eg. workstations (new or less than 3 years old), calculators].
- Opportunities for tutoring and mentoring.
Benefits for Corporate Donors
Businesses that choose to participate in ScholarPOWER will enjoy a variety of advantages, beyond those of corporate philanthropy. Ongoing contact with top scholars improves recruiting efforts by giving companies early access to the best of tomorrow's engineers. Banquet sponsors also increase visibility and build good will, both on campus and in the wider community. In addition, all corporate contributors are recognized on MEPO's website, at various campus events, and in College-and, when feasible, national-publications.
For more information, contact:
Lyonel Milton
Multicultural Engineering Programs Office
University of Michigan College of Engineering
1463 Robert H. Lurie Engineering Center
1221 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2102
(734) 647-7123 phone
(734) 647-7126 fax
lmilton@engin.umich.edu e-mail
http://www.engin.umich.edu/mepo
