TMC Technologies, a Fairmont-based information technology services company, has pledged $50,000 to create the first biometrics scholarship at West VirginiaUniversitys Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
The gift, made through the WVU Foundation Inc., will create an endowment to be known as the TMC Technologies Scholarship. The endowment will provide undergraduate scholarships to a student enrolled in the biometrics track of the Forensic Identification degree program. First preference will be given to a West Virginia resident.
“The fact that TMC Technologies is creating a scholarship for biometrics students clearly shows how important the field of biometrics and its graduates are to the economic development of the region,”said George Trapp, department chair.”TMC Technologies has an active relationship with West VirginiaUniversity, particularly with the LaneDepartment. We are grateful for the support because it will benefit students for years to come.”
TMC Technologies is a member of the team of companies led by Information Systems Support Inc. that recently won a five-year contract with the Department of Defense to staff the BiometricsFusionCenter in HarrisonCounty. The work to be accomplished at the center will require a number of highly skilled and educated employees. When Wade Linger, president of TMC Technologies, learned of WVU s biometrics programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, he was eager to get involved.
“The presence of the BiometricsFusionCenter and WVU s proactive approach to offer a program aimed specifically at the biometrics specialty will provide new opportunities for keeping our best and brightest here in West Virginia,”Linger said.”I challenge the other high-tech companies that are or are planning to get involved in the biometrics industry to match TMC s endowment and help WVU produce more qualified West Virginians who are prepared to work in this new industry.”
TMC Technologies provides innovative solutions, ranging from software systems design and development and Web-based systems to system architecture and network management, for a broad range of government and commercial customers. Federal government customers have included the departments of Commerce, Justice, Defense and Energy. West Virginia customers have included the Department of Health and Human Resources, Secretary of State and Governors Office of Technology. Private sector clients range from large multinational corporations to local small businesses.
For more information about the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, visit the Web site athttp://www.cemr.wvu.edu. For more information about TMC Technologies, call 304-368-1862 or visit the firms Web site atwww.tmctechnologies.com.
The TMC Technologies pledge has been made in conjunction with the Building Greatness Campaign: West Virginia University , a University-wide initiative being conducted by the WVU Foundation to raise $250 million in private support. The Foundation, a private non-profit corporation, is the designated agency to receive and administer gifts from private individuals and organizations for the benefit of West VirginiaUniversity.