Local business establishes scholarship at Centenary

SHREVEPORT, La.(Centenary News Service) — The owners of a local internet company that specializes in custom web design and applications have donated $8,000 to Centenary College of Louisiana.

Ken and Keith Hanson, co-founders of Twin Engine Labs have established an annual scholarship for a student majoring in computational mathematics or minoring in computer science. The Twin Engine Labs Innovation Scholarship will provide a $2,000 scholarship to be awarded annually to a full-time student.

The twins are originally from the Shreveport-Bossier area, having graduated from Airline High School. When they returned to the area and started their business, they were concerned there wouldn't be the workforce needed to keep the business running. That's when they heard about Professor Mark Goadrich and the classes he was teaching in designing smart phone applications and computational mathematics.

"We were looking for local talent when we first started our company and a little concerned that we might not be able to find qualified people with the skills and abilities we needed," said Keith Hanson. "We ran into Dr. Goadrich and it turns out that he is teaching cutting-edge application and design right here at Centenary."

Goadrich is the advisor to the "Catahoula Coders," a group of eight students that have researched, developed and released software projects including the most recent Pherophone application for the Android Operating systems. The application lets its users leave time-sensitive messages at specific coordinates with their phone for others to find. His students have also taken part in mathematical contests in modeling and programming, will be working on a project in Artificial Intelligence, and helping to build a robot that will compete in a fire-fighting competition this spring.

The brothers said they were impressed with the amazing programs and the students coming out of Dr. Goadrich's classes. Because of that, they are committed to investing in the program, including not only the scholarship, but also providing internship-to-hire programs, creating a reliable a reliable pool of talent for future employment. In the past six months, the company has invested nearly $20,000 in engineering resources and time in Centenary College interns. Four students from the College are currently interning at Twin Engine Labs, and all the developers that have been hired are Centenary graduates.

"We want to make sure students have very little reason to not join in or continue under his guidance," added Keith. "We are confident he will be teaching students new, innovative technology for years to come."

The company is donating to the school:
* Scholarships. One $1,000 scholarship will be given to a student each semester.
* Internships-to-hire. The company will offer students internships. Upon graduation the internships will turn into jobs.
* Painting the wall. The company will pay for the repainting of one of the computer labs with floor-to-ceiling white board paint.

LISTEN to Keith Hanson explain the reasons behind the donation.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.