Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Harrisburg firm establishes the SE&M Quantum Endowed Scholarship Fund as the cornerstone of a multi-year workforce and innovation collaboration.
HARRISBURG, PA — HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is honored to announce that SE&M Solutions, LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business headquartered in Harrisburg, has signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the SE&M Quantum Endowed Scholarship Fund: a permanent source of scholarship support for undergraduate students pursuing careers in quantum-adjacent fields.
The endowed fund is the anchor investment in Quantum Storm: Applied Technology and Innovation Hub, a multi-year strategic partnership between SE&M Solutions and HU that spans scholarships, advisory leadership, curriculum development, experiential learning, and public programming — all aimed at building Central Pennsylvania’s workforce for quantum and other emerging technologies.
Through this partnership, SE&M Solutions has pledged $50,000 over five years to build the Fund’s permanent endowment. Because an endowment’s principal is invested and preserved in perpetuity — with only a portion of its annual earnings awarded each year — the company has also committed an additional $10,000 to activate the scholarship immediately and bring online new quantum-focused academic programs and industry events. This means HU students will begin benefiting from SE&M’s generosity right away, while the endowment grows into a permanent engine of support for generations of students to come.
The scholarship will support an undergraduate student entering their junior year in one of HU’s quantum-adjacent programs, including (but not limited to) computer science, cybersecurity, applied mathematics, and systems engineering. The Fund is designed to expand access for high-potential students with demonstrated financial need while strengthening the pipeline of workforce-ready talent prepared for careers in emerging technologies and applied quantum fields.
Beyond the Scholarship: A Partnership Built to Scale
The scholarship is the most recent commitment in a partnership designed to touch nearly every stage of a student’s journey, from the classroom to the career fair to the first day of full-time work. Under the Quantum Storm framework, HU will serve as the initiative’s operational lead, and SE&M Solutions will serve as its strategic industry partner, contributing workforce insight, technical expertise, and mentorship.
During the 2026–27 academic year, the partnership’s first phase will include:
- Industry leadership on campus. SE&M leaders will hold seats on HU’s Business Innovation Advisory Council and IT Advisory Council to help align curriculum and workforce preparation with real-world industry needs.
- Public programming. HU and SE&M will co-host the inaugural Quantum Storm Symposium on the HU campus on September 30, 2026, preceded by a series of free, one-hour virtual community forums exploring applied quantum technology.
- New learning pathways. HU faculty and SE&M subject matter experts will co-design and co-teach a credit-bearing baccalaureate certificate in applied quantum technology for HU undergraduates, with a non-credit certificate program for working professionals also in development.
- Hands-on career experience. Students will gain real-world experience through paid internships at SE&M and applied lab and innovation projects. High-performing interns may be invited into the SE&M Industry Fellowship Program, a paid, longer-term applied learning experience designed to carry students through graduation and into full-time employment.
The partnership is intentionally structured to grow. Future phases envision expanded applied research collaboration, industry challenge and prototype initiatives — including a planned SE&M hackathon — joint white papers, and co-branded events positioning SE&M and HU as national leaders in applied quantum innovation.
A Partnership Proven in the Workplace
The gift formalizes a relationship that has been growing person by person and project by project. SE&M Solutions — whose work spans IT infrastructure, programming, quantum computing systems, and research and development — currently employs two HU students and one recent alumnus in technical roles.
Peter Eke ’26, an Information Systems and Information Technology major, serves as a computer server specialist: installing, configuring, and maintaining enterprise servers and supporting the company’s research and development work. He found the opportunity through an HU career fair and a fellow student’s referral.
“My favorite part of being part of the SE&M team is how welcoming the environment is and the constant sharing of ideas and concepts that we can use as part of the R&D team,” Peter said.
Armani Perez-Hidalgo ’27, a Computer and Information Sciences major, works as a programmer contributing to database development, system accuracy improvements, and user interface design.
“It’s been especially rewarding to see how my contributions directly impact the effectiveness of the systems we are building,” shared Armani.
And Abd’Malik Hakeem-Olowu ’25 has risen from SE&M intern to part-time employee to his current full-time role as quantum manager and network technician, where he develops software and use cases for quantum devices, manages IT architecture, and now mentors the interns coming up behind him. His path — from intern to fellow-style apprenticeship to full-time hire — is precisely the pipeline the Quantum Storm partnership is designed to replicate at scale.
“My internship with SE&M Solutions was instrumental in preparing me for my career,” he said. “Those experiences taught me troubleshooting, communication, time management, and teamwork.”
This fruitful employer relationship was cultivated by HU’s Office of Career Services and Experiential Learning, where Emily Lupi, Assistant Director of Career Services and Employer Relations, has worked with SE&M through career fairs, lunch and learns internships, and ongoing engagement.
“This scholarship is the exciting next chapter of a partnership that began with a single conversation with a student and has since grown into many meaningful internships, mentorship opportunities, and full-time career opportunities for Harrisburg University students.” Lupi said. “SE&M has seen firsthand what HU students can do, and now the company is investing in the next generation of that talent. There is no stronger endorsement of our students or of what employer engagement can become.”
Pam Lambert, HU’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, worked with SE&M Solutions to shape the company’s investment into a permanent endowed fund.
“Endowed gifts are forever gifts,” Lambert said. “SE&M Solutions has created a permanent source of scholarship support that will serve HU students in perpetuity — and have structured their commitment so that students begin benefiting immediately rather than years from now. That combination of long-term vision and immediate impact says everything about who they are as a partner and a community leader. We are honored to celebrate this milestone and grateful to be on this journey together.”
“Our investment in Harrisburg University is an investment in the future workforce and the continued growth of innovation in Central Pennsylvania,” said Charlie Sowell, Chief Executive Officer of SE&M Solutions. “We believe that supporting students today creates the leaders, engineers, researchers, and innovators who will shape tomorrow’s technology landscape. This scholarship, our continued collaboration with Harrisburg University, and our investment in quantum technologies all reflect our long-term commitment to the region and to future generations.”
Organizations interested in partnering with HU — whether through internships, advisory engagement, or establishing a scholarship fund — may contact the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Giving@HarrisburgU.edu.
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
ABOUT SE&M Solutions LLC
SE&M Solutions LLC is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Harrisburg, PA. We are experts in quantum photonic technology, personnel security, continuous vetting, Trusted Workforce 2.0 (TW2.0) policies, processes, and information technology. We offer professional services and IT support, including staff augmentation, planning, and implementation for clients in the federal, state, local, and commercial sectors. For more information, contact SE&M at Info@SEMSolutionsLLC.com. Be sure to follow SE&M Solutions on LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT
- For Harrisburg University: Dan Wilhelm, Director of Communications | DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu
- For SE&M Solutions LLC: Gillian Black, Marketing & HR Specialist | GBlack@SEMSolutionsLLC.com
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