THIBODAUX – The Contractor’s Educational Trust Fund donated $50,000 to support scholarships and programming for students in the Wm. Clifford Smith School of Engineering’s geomatics program.
“The students educated at Nicholls are our future employees,” said Kenn Naquin, secretary of LA-CETF. “We’re the end-users, and Nicholls produces the product. We want to help the university produce the best students possible.”
Previous donations from the Contractor’s Trust have helped the school’s programs recruit and retain faculty, establish an endowed professorship and fund scholarships, including $100,000 for the Endowed Geomatics Student Scholarship fund, $25,000 for the Jules Oreste Chustz Endowed Student Scholarship and $50,000 for need-based scholarships for Nicholls students affected by Hurricane Ida.
“We sincerely thank LA-CETF for their generous support, which is essential to maintaining our nationally recognized geomatics program and preparing future geomatics professionals,” said Dr. Esra Tekdal Yilmaz, director of the Wm. Clifford Smith School of Engineering and associate professor of geomatics.
With 100% job placement, the Nicholls geomatics program blends traditional surveying and mapping with advanced technologies such as the Global Navigation Satellite System, Geographic Information Systems, Unmanned Aerial Systems and laser scanning.
The Wm. Clifford Smith School of Engineering provides programs in geomatics and pre-engineering, as well as civil and mechanical engineering in partnership with the University of New Orleans. Through this agreement, students can complete UNO’s Bachelor of Science in mechanical, civil or other pre-engineering pathways on Nicholls’ campus, then transfer seamlessly to UNO to finish their degrees in their senior year.
To learn more about engineering at Nicholls, click here.
The Contractor’s Educational Trust Fund
The Contractor’s Educational Trust Fund was established as a nonprofit organization to provide funds to Universities in Louisiana who offer programs in the field of construction contracting in and for the State of Louisiana. The Fund is financed through violation fines imposed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors.