Local Businessman A. James Clark Commits $8 Million to Fund Engineering Scholarship Program at George Washington University

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A. James Clark, Eng.D. '10, chairman of the board and CEO of Clark Enterprises, Inc., has committed an $8 million gift to the George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). Mr. Clark's gift will fund the A. James Clark Engineering Scholars program to recruit and graduate students who will become leaders in the engineering profession.  

Freshmen engineering students will be selected for the program on the basis of merit and upon the recommendation of the SEAS dean and a selection board of SEAS alumni, practicing engineers and faculty. Each Clark Engineering Scholar will be awarded an annual merit-based scholarship, renewed each year based on academic standing.

"I am very excited about the Clark Engineering Scholars program. Clark Construction and GW have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship. We have built many buildings together and our company has hired, and continues to employ, many fine GW graduates," said Mr. Clark.

The scholars will enroll in a unique boot camp for Clark Engineering Scholars that will guide students to think like professional engineers. The scholars also will have opportunities to intern and study abroad and interact with engineering alumni. Five students will be selected for this program for the 2011-12 academic year. Five new scholars will be selected each year until a total of 20 scholars are in place by August 2014.

One of the largest privately held companies in the nation, Clark Enterprises Inc., is the parent holding company of Clark Construction Group LLC, which has played a pivotal role in the building or renovating of several facilities at GW, including the Ivory Tower residence hall, the National Law Center, the Ambulatory Care Center and South Hall. The company also is involved in current projects on campus, including the Square 54 garage and office building.  

As an engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. Clark has been the recipient of many academic, professional and civic honors. He is a trustee emeritus at GW, The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine; a board member of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation; and a member of the PGA Tour Golf Course Properties Advisory Board.

Mr. Clark received an honorary doctorate of engineering from GW in 2010.

SOURCE George Washington University