DOVER, Del. ― Delaware State University has received $6.2 million in grants ― $1.2 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for student education, and $5 million from NASA for the university’s optics program.
University officials held a news conference Monday morning to announce the two grants. Officials say the Gates Foundation grant will go to help low-income and first-generation college students overcome obstacles that prevent students from reaching graduation. This includes implementing Individualized Development Plans for each freshman.
The NASA grant will go toward developing two new lasers to analyze different aspects of Earth’s atmosphere and the creation of an infrared detector to be used in space applications, among other projects. Students will be involved in the research and development of the new technologies.