Software and information services company Deltek has contributed a significant donation and began a scholarship program for computer science students only with George Mason University.
The Deltek Scholars Program will divvy up the company’s initial $100,000 investment for up to eight first-generation college students enrolled in Mason’s software engineering master’s program, the company said Tuesday.
“Mason is a proven talent incubator for the Northern Virginia region,” said Mike Corkery, Deltek’s CEO and president.
Corkery went on to share that the company intends to continually grow the amount of Mason interns and graduates of the university on staff. He said this is in line with a mission of strengthening northern Virginia’s information technology bona fides.
The scholarship will create a direct pipeline to internships at Deltek for its recipients, as well as enable networking and career opportunities and pay for the financial demands of students’ capstone projects. Funds will be distributed starting in Fall 2022.
The donation is part of a longstanding partnership between the company and George Mason. Corkery is a participant in the school’s President’s Innovation Advisory Council, which is composed of industry, community and government figures helping to direct expansion in Arlington’s Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, where a new campus is currently being erected.
In addition, Donald de Laski, the founder of Deltek, served on Mason’s board and supported the university for a number of years. De Laski and his wife, Kathleen, have a performing arts building named after them on Mason’s Fairfax campus.
Just as this new scholarship venture attempts to uplift first-generation students, Deltek also drew focus to diverse workforce objectives last month when its analysts highlighted new opportunities for women-owned small businesses.
Ashley Sanderson, senior manager of research at Deltek, spotlighted three potential contracts available for these businesses, including a $1 billion contract tasking information technology services for the Defense Information Systems Agency.