Longenecker & Associates signs strategic agreement with University of South Carolina Aiken

Aiken, SC (02/13/2023) — Longenecker & Associates (L&A) has established a strategic agreement with the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) to help attract and prepare students for careers that can support the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) national security, environmental remediation and scientific research missions.

Through this partnership, L&A will provide $10,000 to fund scholarships for USC Aiken students and provide internships at L&A supporting our work at the Savannah River Site and Savannah River National Laboratory as well as other projects across the country. This partnership will further L&A's successful efforts to provide internships and job opportunities to USC Aiken students over the last several years.

"We're excited to take this next step to provide increased opportunities for students at USC Aiken, located near one of DOE's largest sites and one of L&A's largest offices," L&A CEO John Longenecker said. "L&A is proud of our efforts to partner with universities across the country to help provide opportunities to students who are interested in helping DOE tackle some of the nation's largest challenges."

Two recent USC Aiken graduates who participated in internships with L&A -- Heather Thomas ('21) and Monica Ruffin ('22) -- have since been hired as full-time L&A employees and are currently supporting DOE and SRNL.

"I had an incredible experience as an intern at L&A and, in my first year with L&A as an employee, I've been able to get involved in a number of important L&A projects," Thomas said. "My time at USC Aiken and my internship at L&A prepared me extremely well to support these important DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration missions, and I'm proud to see that this approach has been formalized into a strategic partnership that will enable future students to follow the same path."

"In this rapidly changing job market, partnerships like this provide our students a competitive edge and empower them to take charge of their careers," said Corey Feraldi, Director of Career Services at USC Aiken. "We look forward to capitalizing on our relationship with L&A and local DOE partners to provide enhanced career development and training opportunities benefiting our students and the communities where they work."

Along with USC Aiken, L&A has also established a relationship with South Carolina State University, a Historically Black College and University, to provide scholarship and internship opportunities.