The state Department of Transportation is sharing its prize money from the Q bridge with New Haven Promise students.
The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, commonly called the Q Bridge, in New Haven won a top national award in 2016 along with a $10,000 prize.
The money was to be donated to a charity or scholarship fund of the DOT’s choice. This week at New Haven City Hall, Commissioner James Redeker handed the check over to New Haven Promise, the scholarship that provides free in-state tuition to qualifying New Haven students.
“We think it’s no more compelling a way to give back an additional contribution to the city than to donate this money to the future education of students from New Haven interested in the engineering discipline," said Redeker.
New Haven Promise President Patricia Melton said they’re currently supporting 600 students in college, and are likely to reach nearly 700 with the incoming class. She said they’re already seeing a return on investment.
“We have graduated a couple of classes of scholars and those scholars are already coming back to New Haven and deciding to start their careers and launching their careers in the region," said Melton.
Redeker pointed out that a New Haven Promise scholar, named Jordy Padilla, actually worked on the Q Bridge project. He served as a cost engineer.
The bridge won the grand prize in the ninth annual America’s Transportation Awards competition.
