WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Nuclear Security Administration announced today that it has awarded $22.5 million in grants to 21 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions (HBCU) to support NNSA's national security and nonproliferation missions.

The goal of NNSA's HBCU program is to increase the number of minority students pursuing science and technology careers, to establish a partnership to establish next generation of creative and committed leaders in meeting the demands of national security, and to attract and retain HBCU graduates for employment within NNSA.

"I'm pleased to note the growing interest and participation by HBCU college students in NNSA's crucial national security missions," NNSA Administrator Linton F. Brooks said. "The opportunities we offer them through this program will not only benefit their educational progress but will help make our nation more secure."

NNSA's Office of Diversity and Outreach facilitates the development and general oversight of the HBCU program and coordinates with the HBCUs and the NNSA line program offices in their execution and management of the technical aspects of the HBCU program.

NNSA has awarded $20 million total in awards to the following universities:

Allen University (South Carolina) ($2,000,000)
Allen University Mathematics, Science and Technology Expansion and Improvement Program

Benedict College (South Carolina) ($500,000)
Infrastructure, Research and Student Development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to Support National Security

Central State University (Ohio) ($2,000,000)
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Upgrade/Enhancement and Outreach

Claflin College (South Carolina) ($2,000,000)
Program for the Preparation of a Technologically Literate Science Workforce to Meet the Needs of the 21st Century

Clark Atlanta University (Georgia) ($400,000)
Research and Training in Radiochemistry, EM, Defense Nuclear Non Proliferation and Advanced Simulation and Computing

Fisk University (Tennessee) ($1,500,000)
Radiation Detection Lab

Fort Valley State University (Georgia) ($1,500,000)
Scholarships and Pre-College Science, Engineering and Technology Outreach Programs for Workforce Development for Environmental Restoration/Waste Management (ER/WM) and Related NNSA Programs

Morehouse College (Georgia) ($2,000,000)
The Dansby Hall Minority Science Project

Morris College (South Carolina) ($500,000)
Preparing Students for Critical Careers in Nuclear Security

Prairie View A&M University (Texas) ($1,500,000)
Research on the Actinides and Related Materials Extreme Conditions

South Carolina State University (South Carolina) ($1,296,952)
Establishment of Pilot Program in Radiochemistry

Southern University and A&M College (Louisiana) ($540,848)
Material Science and Research Development

Tuskegee University (Alabama) ($1,500,000)
Research, Curriculum, Development and Training for ER/WM at Tuskegee University

Voorhees College (South Carolina) ($1,000,000)
Lighting the Way: The Voorhees College Virtual Learning in Cyber Security Education

Wilberforce University (Ohio) ($2,000,000)
NNSA Research and Development Initiative

NNSA has also awarded $2 million total to the following universities for the Dr. Samuel P. Massie Chairs of Excellence:

• Florida A∓M University, Tallahassee, FL ($230,000)
• Hampton University, Hampton, VA ($215,000)
• Howard University, Washington, DC ($215,000)
• Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD ($210,000)
• North Carolina A∓T University, Greensboro, NC ($230,000)
• Prairie View A∓M University, Prairie View, TX ($220,000)
• Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA ($230,000)
• Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN ($220,000)
• Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL ($230,000)

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for maintaining and enhancing the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; working to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; providing the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Media contact(s):
Bryan Wilkes, NNSA (202) 586-7371

Number: NA-05-26