NetApp recently awarded a full one-year scholarship to Gunnar Gassman, a freshman computer science major at Wichita State University's College of Engineering.

This is the first scholarship the Fortune 500 storage and data management company has awarded to a Wichita State student. It will cover Gassman’s tuition, fees, room, board and books for one year.

Scholarship applicants were required to be full-time undergraduate students majoring in electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science.

Gassmann’s academic merits at Garden Plain High School made him an ideal recipient for this prestigious scholarship. While in high school, Gassman maintained a 4.0 GPA for four years, was the valedictorian of his graduating class, a member of National Honor Society and participated in wrestling, cross country and track.

“I am honored that out of all of the engineering students, I am the one student that received the scholarship,” Gassmann said. “I am very thankful for the scholarship as it is helping me pay for my college education..”

In addition to the scholarship, Gassman will have the opportunity for additional learning and career development opportunities with NetApp during the academic year.

“NetApp has a history of hiring our students to work both at the company and now as part of the Innovation University concept,” said John Watkins, professor and chair of the electrical engineering and computer science department. “This scholarship is extremely important as it allows us to attract the best and brightest students to WSU and the EECS department."