Retaining talent

Kareem Jalanbo, a Wright State University junior majoring in computer science, received a $1,000 Retention of Talent scholarship from the Dayton Workforce Partnerships Scholarship Program.

“Very surprising,” said Jalanbo. “If I could find a job here in Dayton, where I was born and raised, it would be wonderful.”

The program connects scholarship recipients to area business partners for shadowing, internships and eventually employment opportunities.

Michael Bennett, Dayton office principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, says that it’s important for the company to stay connected to Wright State. “They produce outstanding graduates that we are able to put to work right away,” he said.

During a scholarship presentation on Aug. 19 in the Joshi Research Center, Jalanbo received an oversized check. He was joined by his father; Ron Adler, the vice president of Dayton Workforce Partnerships Scholarship Program; Bennett; and Brian Rigling, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“It’s really a mission of the college to stay well-tuned with what our local employers need,” said Rigling.

Adler says the Dayton region is full of great possibilities for future engineering graduates like Jalanbo. “By the time he’s ready to graduate he’s not going to have to worry about a job search. He’s going to have a job offer before he graduates from Wright State,” said Adler.