UA Engineering Student Receives Scholarship from Department of Homeland Security

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Thomas Nickless McCain Devin, a senior in mechanical engineering at The University of Alabama, recently received a scholarship from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Scholarship and Fellowship program. Devin is the first UA student to receive a scholarship from the Homeland Security program.

Through the DHS Scholars and Fellows Program, Devin is awarded full-tuition scholarships, stipends and a summer internship at a DHS research facility. He is one of 105 college students nationwide that received the scholarship designated for students studying math, engineering and science. The program is designed to support, stimulate and tap into the intellectual capital in academia to address current and future homeland security challenges, while at the same time educating and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers dedicated to improving homeland security.

“It is gratifying to welcome such an accomplished group of students, who I know will go far in helping us to continue building a firm foundation of U.S. leadership in science and technology,” said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, at the program’s orientation session.

Devin, from Clarendon, Texas, is a member of Blue Key Honor Society, Pi Tau Sigma, Capstone Men and Women, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and president of Mortar Board Senior Honor Society at the Capstone.

In 1837, UA became the first university in the state to offer engineering classes and was one of the first five in the nation to do so. Today, the College of Engineering, with about 1,900 students and more than 95 faculty, is one of the three oldest continuously operating engineering programs in the country and has been fully accredited since accreditation standards were implemented in the 1930s.