Texas Instruments donates $100,000 to SU Engineering Dept

Texas Instruments (TI) presented the Southern University Electrical Engineering Department with a $100,000 donation on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
LaQuitta Thomas, an ecommerce specialist and representative of TI, stated that the company “earmarked how the money will be spent in the contract with Southern.” She also said that the money is allotted for certain projects. For example, the company is starting a new course at Southern.
“A big lump of money is going to the startup of the class,” said Thomas. “It already has a course code and we’re in the process of ordering equipment.”
The course, Automatic Test Engineering, is a 400 level elective course that is exclusive to engineering majors. TI is anticipating the start date to be Fall of 2008 or Spring of 2009.
Thomas, who is the executive sponsor at TI for Southern, said that plans for the new class have been “in the works for the last year and a half.”
“It’s remarkable that we’re able to have this type of impact on the curriculum,” said Thomas. She also mentioned that she’s “excited to work with the faculty and staff at Southern.”
Thomas explained that TI is not only starting a new class but also “adopting a lab” in the PBS Pinchback engineering building. The Networks lab will be allotted $5,000 per semester for such items as new equipment.
The “adopt a lab” program must be renewed annually.
TI also offers scholarships and co-ops for students. Currently, Southern has five TI scholars who receive approximately $3,000 per year.
Gregory Puckett, II, a senior electrical engineering major from Tallulah, said that the program “provides a money source to help with your tuition and puts you in connection with people in the industry.”
In addition, TI sponsors the scholars for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) annual conference, assisting them with travel arrangements.
This year, the conference will be held in March in Orlando, Fla. According to Thomas, TI has been sponsoring students for the past 2-3 years.
“We also support the TI scholars on their senior design projects,” said Thomas. This is in addition to giving the scholars professional advice.
“We’re not just giving them money, but we’re being consultants as well,” explained Thomas. “We want students to know we’re committed and dedicated to the students.”
When asked about the selection process for choosing scholars, Thomas stated that the Electrical Engineering Dept. picks the students and then TI interviews them. She also stated that TI “emphasizes graduate school” and prefers applicants with a 3.0 GPA or better.
“We have not had a student who’s dropped their cumulative below a 3.0 GPA,” said Thomas.
She also mentioned that TI is hoping to expand their engineering program to include computer science majors.Julian Herbert, senior computer science major from Port Allen, has interned with TI twice and is looking forward to interning with them again this year.
“Each time, my responsibility level has increased; I’m not looked at as an intern anymore,” said Herbert, who is also trying to “recruit some other computer science majors.”
According to Thomas, TI has had a long standing relationship with Southern, but “this particular program really got jump started in like 2001.”
Jason Winfrey, a senior electrical engineering major from Lake Charles, said that his work experience with TI has been great.
“Unlike many companies, they give you work that’s engineering specific,” said Winfrey.
Thomas expressed that TI is “pleased with the quality of students” at Southern.