A business is helping local college students achieve their goals of seeking careers in science and technology.

The Riverland Community College Foundation received $13,000 from AT&T Wednesday to support 13 $1,000 scholarships for Riverland freshmen pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-based careers.

“It’s going to go a long way to expand the opportunities of our students to pursue those careers,” Riverland President Adenuga Atewologun said.

Riverland Dean for Institutional Advancement Steve Bowron said such scholarships highlight the importance of such partnerships, which help students attend college and meet their goals.

“Education today is really challenging, especially for the young people as they try to balance their lives,” Bowron said. “Times have changed in our world, and it’s really difficult to have a good solid career that offers you and your family prosperity without having higher education beyond high school.”

AT&T Minnesota President Paul Weirtz said the company hopes to help advance education through such donations and through the AT&T Aspire program.

“We really try to partner with institutions like Riverland around the state … so we can bring some contribution support to a program that is really going to quickly get to students, provide that assistance,” Weirtz said. “I think [this] is going to benefit the communities of Riverland that it serves, the employers of the 21st century, and that includes AT&T.”

State Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, and Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, both touted the importance of STEM programs, and Sparks said scholarships are key to helping students secure jobs.

“We need to make sure that we have this well educated work force moving forward,” he said.

As a counselor at Riverland, Poppe has seen the benefit from such partnerships.

“I know these students who are coming forward in need of scholarship money, so having AT&T come forward and say that we’re going to help support our students is very meaningful,” she said.

Educators and students alike were excited about the big picture. Second-year student Alexis Johnson was glad to see a donation from a company that could someday employ Riverland students.

“Knowing that you’ve worked with AT&T, knowing that these businesses care about us, we’re going to be more likely to think about applying there afterwards,” Johnson said. “So showing you care to the student really will make a difference when you are looking to get workers.”

Johnson, who is pursuing her associate’s degree, cannot take part in this scholarship because it is only for freshman students. However, she said scholarships make it possible for her and many other students to seek post secondary education.

“This just helps ease it for everyone,” she said. “Many of our students are working students, or veterans, or foreign exchange, so we have a variety of students that are serviced by this. It’s really great.”

Riverland is not the only college AT&T is partnering with, according to Weirtz, as the company plans to help many students learn STEM skills that are proving useful in the economy.

“This type of a partnership with these 13 college students, helping them get into STEM education, prepare them for that, I think is going to benefit the communities of Riverland that it serves, the employers of the 21st century, and that includes AT&T,” he said. “Having that skill set is going to be really important for the jobs of the future, so you’ve got to be ready.”

Johnson agreed.

“This new workforce, we are focusing on STEM courses because we know that robotics and technology are ever changing and it something that we need to focus on to be successful no matter what field we go in,” she said.

Weirtz said the scholarship might help students who have gotten the STEM education at a younger level and want to continue but may not have the resources. He said many students who get a college education may stay in Austin and start businesses of their own using the education and skills they received.

“The world opens up, because if you’ve got the technology, you can run a business, you can do your inventions, whatever, right here in Austin and it can reach the world,” he said. “So, to the extent that this contribution plays a small role in that, we’re happy to be a part of that.”