Five Auburn University students have been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the College of Engineering’s Nuclear Power Generation Systems program (NPGS) for 2012-2013. Matthew Akenhead, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Huntsville; Johnathan Anderson, a junior in civil engineering from Arab, Ala.; William Kirkland, a senior in mechanical engineering from Hoover, Ala.; Rebecca Osteen, a senior in chemical engineering from Aiken, S.C.; and John Terry, a junior in mechanical engineering from Knoxville, Tenn., are the first students to receive a scholarship award from the NPGS program since its creation this past year. 

The NPGS program and 17-hour minor prepares students for careers specializing in the operation, support and service of the nuclear power generation industry. Students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the industry’s basic construction techniques, power plant models, integration into the national electrical grid and common reactor plan operations. 

From left, Dean Larry Benefield; scholarship recipients John Terry, Matthew Akenhead, Rebecca Osteen, Jonathan Anderson and Grant Kirkland; NPGS program director Bill Goodwin