LCF Enterprises Science & Technology Scholarships
GOAL: Identify and publically recognize high school seniors accepted in a science/engineering degree program at a four year university.GEOGRAPHICAL ELIGIBILITY: Five northern counties in Idaho. Graduates from public schools, private schools, and homeschools are included.
APPLICATION SUBMITTALS:
- University admissions letter.
- SAT or ACT test results.
- High school transcripts including age.
- Essay. (See below)
TERMS:
- Ten scholarships total.
- Two thousand dollars ($2,000) per scholarship.
- Payment made directly to accredited four-year university in Fall of 2008.
- Scholarship expires 12/31/08 if not used.
- 19th birthday must be after 9/1/2008.
- Application deadline is April 30, 2008 (4/30/2008).
- Award date by May 12, 2008.
- All submittals subject to verification.
ESSAY TOPIC:
The social and economic response to the issue of global warming has the potential of significant impact on someone embarking on a science-based career. As a gifted young scientist, you have applied for and received interviews with five companies.
The first company holds two main management views towards global warming. One view is that global warming is not that imminent a threat but does offer the opportunity to develop products that will sell like “hot cakes.” The second view considers global warming to be a long-term threat to society and the environment. The two different views help management settle on the strategic direction to develop profitable products to mitigate serious problems that world experts are convinced will be arising in the future due to global warming.
The second company is a rapidly growing small business founded by an entrepreneur who denies that anthropogenic global warming exists and states that current attempts at establishing a market in carbon credits are riddled with fraud. He says that the basis for the Chicago Climate Exchange is an ideology seeking to institutionalize energy scarcity and regulation, and any organization that invests in something that has no scientific or economic merit will lose its money. This company is spending heavily on development of neutron catalyzed fusion and is studying ways to profit from what it considers to be the inevitable collapse of the carbon credit market.
The third company has a pure focus on delivering a good product to satisfied customers at a good price. Management does not invest in capital equipment to reduce carbon emissions, and also does not spend money to promote a public image of an environmentally conscious firm. Economics rather than environmentalism drives management decisions, and conservation is completed only when it reduces company costs. In past contact with regulators, this company has not been diplomatic and has made it clear that it considers management most qualified to make decisions on energy use and the conduct of its business. In a society where energy use is controlled and carbon emissions limited, this company may not work well with regulators and may have difficulty obtaining an energy use permit.
The fourth company has a good product line but does not consider a pure focus on business sufficient in the world of today. It invests heavily in capital equipment to reduce carbon emissions and advertises its environmental consciousness. Some competitors and critics state the company’s environmental activities increase costs and consume more energy than they save. The company is well connected with community leaders and regulators, and has received awards for its contributions to the community. In a society where energy use is controlled and carbon emissions limited, this company would be well positioned to receive favorable treatment from regulators.
The fifth company is a growing export/import firm. This company states that its growth has been driven by approximately 20% of the industrial base of the United States being transferred overseas in the last 20 years. It projects that in the next 20 years an additional 40% of the industrial base of the United States will be transferred overseas due to energy costs and regulation of carbon emissions. This company is well positioned in a number of developing countries which are taking exception to full implementation of international standards on carbon emissions until they achieve rough economic parity with the United States and Europe.
Discussion Point 1:
You have scheduled interviews with the five companies. How will you sell yourself to each company? And what will a company have to do to convince you that it is the one you will ultimately choose to join?
Discussion Point 2:
There are only five company profiles presented. Is there a sixth profile that would match your career aspirations better?
Discussion Point 3:
What are the reasons for your choice of the company you will select as your employer?
What is the last company you would select and why?
The response should be uploaded in PDF format. Keep your response length reasonable. A response of 2 - 3 pages may be sufficient, and a response longer than ten pages could be excessive.