The Scholarship
Bob Maher spent his 48-year career at the Savannah River Site in technical and managerial assignments. He was a tireless and able manager who died September 14, 2002. At the time of his death, he was Vice President and General Manager of Strategic Planning and Mission Development for Washington Savannah River Company. Bob Pedde, President of WSRC said, “Bob Maher was a phenomenal resource to me and to everyone who preceded me.” Early in 2002, Mr. Maher was awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent by the South Carolina Governor at the time, Governor Jim Hodges.
Starting in 2003, CNTA has awarded college scholarships in memory of Bob Maher. Winners are honored at one of CNTA’s many fall events.
Purpose
To award annually a $5,000 scholarship to a student who demonstrates outstanding college level academic achievement in nuclear science/engineering or a related field.
Financial Need
Financial need will be considered. The candidate may submit evidence of unmet need as part of the application.
Eligibility
- Candidate must be enrolled as a junior or senior in a university or college within the states of South Carolina or Georgia.
- Candidate must have a “B” average overall grade and a “B” average in science/engineering and mathematics for college level course work.
- Candidate must be pursuing a B.S. degree in nuclear science, nuclear engineering, or an engineering or science discipline, with coursework and/or research directly related to the nuclear field. Examples include: nuclear applications associated with chemistry or chemical engineering, environmental science or environmental engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, etc. The candidate may also demonstrate their interest and involvement in the nuclear field by describing a summer research project or their junior/senior thesis topic (see page 3 of application).
- Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen.
Application Process
The application (including transcripts, letter of recommendation, and answers to questions on page 3 of the application) must be received by Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness, Inc. (CNTA) by July 1, 2024. The 2024 award process will open in March. Check back here for information.
2023 Maher Memorial Scholarship Winner
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA) and Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) have announced Kennesaw State University (KSU) student Simon Bratescu as the winner of the 2023 Robert Maher Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship is sponsored by SRMC, the liquid waste contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
Bratescu, a junior from Gainesville, Georgia, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in nuclear engineering at KSU. CNTA Executive Director Allison Hamilton Molnar said CNTA is proud to award this $5,000 scholarship to such a talented and deserving student.
“Simon’s passion to pursue nuclear research was immediately evident in his scholarship application,” Hamilton Molnar said. “CNTA is pleased to present him with financial support to continue his education. No doubt he will be an exemplary addition to the nuclear industry.”
In Spring 2023, Bratescu joined KSU’s Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Program, conducting research on the study of thermal transport properties of nanomaterials. He is also the president of Kennesaw Nuclear Society, the American Nuclear Society’s student organization. His aspirations are to create better ways for future, safe transportation of nuclear waste, as well as commercialized nuclear-powered transportation.
“I knew a major in mechanical engineering and a minor in nuclear engineering would allow me to pursue my childhood passion for nuclear reactors,” Bratescu said. “I have always thought about how reactor development would grow to the point where transporting nuclear waste materials would become a highly critical part of our infrastructure, which is why I would love to develop a way to safely transport nuclear waste as if it were a crate of apples.”
“Reliable, safe, and cost effective are all key elements in successful transport of anything. By receiving this scholarship, it enables me to further my studies through Kennesaw State to allow me to develop the best way to transport this nuclear waste in the future,” Bratescu said.