Gem State Post
2016 SCHOLARSHIP FOR $1,000.00
REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a US Citizen

Enrolled in an engineering program, architecture program, or one of the programs listed below leading to a BS degree or equivalent.

AND Undergraduate class standing of sophomore, junior or senior

AND Attending The University of Idaho, Idaho State University or Boise State
University

OR A son or daughter of a SAME Gem State Post member having undergraduate class standing of sophomore, junior or senior enrolled in an engineering program or one of the programs listed below leading to a BS degree or equivalent at any accredited university
SELECTION BASED ON:

Involvement in university and community programs

Academic standing - GPA

Response to Scholarship Essay
AWARDS:

Two (2) $1,000 scholarships

Student membership in SAME

Military Engineering Familiarization at Mountain Home Air Force Base or Military
Base adjacent to your school or home (accommodations paid for)
SUBMIT:
Applications will be submitted via email with a hard copy mailed to Ray Arguello.

Statement of extra-curricular activities from applicant

Letter of recommendation from school official in the engineering/achrictecure/or department where the students major is located
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Copy of an official transcript—will be required before scholarship award. For initial application submission an unofficial copy of the transcript is acceptable

Scholarship Essay—see topic below

APPLY BY April 5, 2016 to:
W. Ray Arguello
2041 South Cobalt Point Way
Meridian, Idaho 83642
208-863-5140
Email: rarguello@powereng.com

SAME Scholarship Essay
Provide a typewritten or word processed essay, 12-point font maximum of three pages on the following topic:
Provide an essay addressing one of following topics:

How will the current drop in oil prices affect renewable energy

Will battery storeage become cost effective, if so when, why

How does America get more students to follow STEM Education
Choose one of the topics above and complete a an essay based upon the guidance below.
Oil Prices and Renewable Energy
There is currently a glut of oil available on the world market. The glut may be here to stay for a couple of years. Fraking and other advanced technology has opened the opportunity for America to become a net exporter of oil and natural gas. Conversion of coal fired power plants to natural gas results in a drop in greenhouse gas emissions.
Currenly renewable solar and wind renewable energy has an efficiency of only 10 percent to 35 percent. Studies show that renewable energy costs more to generate electricity than natural gas power plants. What is your view on the impact of cheap oil and gas on the renewable energy market? Provide an essay on your view of the short term and/or long term implications of cheap oil and renewable energy. Do you believe America has the will to pay more for renewable energy if we have cheap gas available?
Battery Storage—cost effective? When? Why?
Today’s commercial solar cells, most often made from silicon, typically convert sunlight into electricity with an efficiency of only 10 percent to 20 percent, although some test cells do a little better. Given their manufacturing costs, modules of today’s cells incorporated in the power grid would produce electricity at a cost roughly 3 to 6 times higher than current prices, or 18-30 cents per kilowatt hour [Solar Energy Technologies
Program]. To make solar and wind technologies economically competitive, engineers must find ways to improve the efficiency of the solar panels and wind turbines, lower their manufacturing costs, and make battery storage economical. With battery storage solar and wind can provide base load power 24 hours per day 7 days per week. Provide and essay on battery storeage and why you believe it will become cost effective. Provide reasoning for you answer by explaining when you think this will take place and why you believe it will take place.
.
STEM Education
America’s is pushing for more students to enter Scientific, Technical, Engineering and
Math (STEM) education. As a student currently involved in a STEM education, what do you believe America needs to do to get more studnets to pursue a STEM education.

What programs do you see as viable? If you were designing a program to encourage students to pursue a STEM education, how would you do it? What does our education system do correctly to encourage participation in STEM education? What if anything needs to be changed?
Completed essay is to be included in the scholarhip submission and e-mailed and a hard copy mailed to the listed scholarship point of contact Ray Arguello.
Note: Essays may be published in the SAME newsletter.
Eligible Majors
All Engineering Majors (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.)
Architecture
Construction Management
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Mathematics
Computer science
Computational science
Biochemistry
Robotics
Optics
Astrophysics
Biomechanics
Geographic information systems
Atmospheric sciences
Software engineering