The lab and all materials in it were made possible by aÌý$2 million grant in 2018 from Entergy and the Entergy Charitable Foundation. The company’s gift was then matched by the state of Louisiana for a total of $4 million. According to the university, the College of Sciences and Engineering lab contains the most 3D printers in a central location at an educational institution in Louisiana.Ìý

The university completed construction of the lab in February – just before classes went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But a small team of engineering faculty and students did not want to miss an opportunity to learn and support their community. So, they fired up their 40 new 3D printers to make individual mask parts that could then be easily assembled by health care professionals.

The team has already printed more than 2,000 N95 masks to distribute to COVID-19 health care workers in the Baton Rouge area. The highly effective filtration masks are reusable, can be fitted to the wearer’s face and include a cushion lining for comfort.

When Entergy presented the grant to Southern in 2018, Chairman and CEO Leo Denault said, “As a national leader in educating minority and women engineers and STEM professionals, Southern University is an ideal partner for Entergy to continue to build on our investments in growing a diverse workforce.”

Entergy has a long history of working with universities within the Gulf South to develop the professional and technical employees that can support the continued economic development across the region as well as Entergy’s internal long-term workforce needs. In the past decade, Entergy has contributed more than $7.4 million to historically black colleges and universities in the company’s service territory.

Photos courtesy of Southern University.

A big part of that commitment involves building and retaining a workforce that reflects the richÌýdiversity of the communities we serve.Ìý

The company works hard to attract talented, diverse employees through our college recruiting efforts and partnerships with organizations and educational institutions. The​se efforts include partnering with historically black colleges and universities.

Through these partnerships, we’ve contributed more than $7.4 million to historically black colleges and universities in our service territory. But our partnerships go beyond monetary donations. We’ve also established formal mentoring programs, collaborated in research studies and provided intern/co-op opportunities for students.ÌýHere are three examples of how our partnerships with HBCUs are benefiting students, ourÌýcommunities and our company.

Southern University

In 2018,ÌýEntergy and the Entergy Charitable Foundation announced aÌý$2 millionÌýcommitment to Southern UniversityÌýin Louisiana.ÌýThe grant supports classroom and lab infrastructure improvements, as well as curriculum and faculty professional development for the university’s engineering program.ÌýThe grant will also fund the creation of internship and mentoring programs to enhance and strengthen the relationship between Entergy and Southern University.Ìý

Jackson State University

In 2009, Entergy and the Entergy Charitable Foundation donatedÌý$400,000 to Jackson State UniversityÌýto establish the Entergy Power Systems Laboratory in theÌýSchool of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Technology. Entergy also made an additional $100,000 donation to provide scholarships to JSU engineering students.

The Power Systems Laboratory lets students conduct experimentsÌýin powerÌýsimulation, power electronics, electrical machines and other subjects related to managingÌýand modernizing the nation’s energy transmission systems. Students also learn about electric grid infrastructure, energy conservation, renewable energy andÌýlarge-scale smart grids. Since that initial grant, the company has hired more than 50 graduates from the JSU engineering program. And in 2017, Entergy reaffirmed its support of JSU’s engineering programs by donating another $150,000.

Alcorn State University

In 2007, Entergy collaborated with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission andÌýAlcorn State UniversityÌýto develop the only radiation-related program in the state of Mississippi. The NRC and the Health Physics Society recognize the ASU-Entergy alliance as one of the best modelsÌýin the country.

Since then, Entergy has invested more than $650,000 to support the university’s radiation technology program. In addition to scholarships, the partnership provides Alcorn students with internship opportunities and offers a mentorship program matching students to technicians and technologists at nearby Grand Gulf Nuclear Station.ÌýGrandÌýGulfÌýemployees also visit health physics classes to share their experience with students.