Central Arizona College has created a new scholarship to provide financial support for women students interested in engineering.

The "Women in Engineering Scholarship" was established by Armineh Noravian, professor of engineering, adjunct professor of anthropology and applied researcher at CAC, was well as her husband, John Kerns, as part of an effort to make engineering more equitable, according to a press release.

Since 2019, Noravian has been working at CAC as a full-time engineering faculty member.

“I believe that a rural community college like CAC is a metaphor for equity and access,” Noravian  stated in the release. “However, engineering as a field is not so equitable. While women represent a little more than 50% of the U.S. population, they are less than 30% of engineering bachelor's degree recipients. This means their voices are not heard in the identification of problems that plague our world or in the creation of their solutions.”

The Women in Engineering Scholarship is intended to encourage women students to complete their main engineering courses at CAC. Scholarships of up to $1,500 will be awarded each academic year. Funds will be applied after all other scholarships, and funding will only be paid to students after they have successfully completed their engineering courses.

Students interested in applying for the scholarship must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the online CAC Scholarship Application at centralaz.edu/scholarships. Additionally, applicants must have completed "Introduction to Engineering" with a B or better to show their commitment to the pathway and have a 3.0 GPA to qualify.

Noravian and Kerns hope to increase the scholarship fund. This can be made possible through donations to the CAC Foundation for the Women in Engineering Scholarship. Tax-deductible contributions can be made online at centralaz.edu/give. Donors may choose a gift amount and then select the Women in Engineering Scholarship from the drop-down menu, the release stated.

Information: Craig Kurtz, executive director institutional development, 520-494-5215 or craig.kurtz@centralaz.edu.