Alumna Helps Launch Novelis Scholarship for EWU STEM Students

When Eastern Washington University alumna Delaney Putnam returned to campus last May, she came back not just as a visitor but as a working scientist helping to create new opportunities for future STEM students.

Putnam graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She soon landed a lab technologist position with Novelis, a producer of flat-rolled aluminum products and the world’s largest aluminum recycler, at the company’s Spokane Valley plant. More recently, she’s been busy bringing Novelis and EWU closer together through a new partnership that will support students through a multi-year scholarship program.

The Novelis Aluminum STEM Scholarship will provide five $1,400 scholarships to students in EWU’s chemistry, engineering and MESA programs.

Putnam said she got the idea for the scholarship after noticing several Novelis employees, herself included, are EWU alumni.

“We have three or four people on the team from EWU,” Putnam said. “I saw what other Novelis locations were doing for their local schools, and it just clicked—since we have this EWU connection, it made perfect sense to support Eastern.”

She brought the idea to her team, where it quickly gained momentum. With Putnam leading the charge, Novelis employees visited the campus, toured the Interdisciplinary Science Center and the newly renovated Science Building, and chatted with faculty to learn more about EWU’s STEM programs and how the university prepares students through applied learning.

For Putnam, the visit brought back memories of her own hands-on learning experiences, which she now puts into practice every day. At Novelis, she analyzes aluminum samples for impurities, helping ensure the material’s quality before it gets shipped out to major manufacturers, including Coca-Cola, BMW and Jaguar.

During her return to campus, Putnam rolled up her sleeves and joined students in a working lab — this time in the Geosciences 462 class taught by recent Trustee Medal of Honor recipient Carmen Nezat, a professor of geosciences and environmental science.

Students in the lab typically tackle a real-world industry challenge, such as breaking down aluminum samples to find impurities. Watching students work through familiar industry challenges reinforced Putnam’s belief in the value of experiential learning.

“It’s hard to put into words how important [hands-on opportunities] are — they really help you be ready for what comes after graduation,” Putnam says.

Putnam also says she’s excited to watch Eastern’s polytechnic programs continue to grow and hopes students will have even more opportunities for hands-on learning in the future.

For Novelis, this scholarship is about supporting today’s students and building up future talent in STEM fields and the communities where its employees live and work. Megan Durfey, an accounting professional at Novelis, sees these programs as a way to keep the industry strong while giving students a clear path from the classroom to a career.

“Novelis has always wanted to back STEM initiatives,” Durfey said. “There just aren’t enough people entering these fields, so we ask ourselves — how do we encourage and support the next wave of talent?”

She also pointed out that partnerships between local organizations and universities help students see their career possibilities. “Companies have to show up for local universities and high schools so students can see what these paths actually lead to,” Durfey adds.

Putnam feels proud to give something back to the place where it all started. “It was great to come back and make a difference,” she says. “Dr. Nezat was a big part of my experience, and I’m thrilled to support her students.”

Putnam’s involvement with EWU doesn’t end with the Novelis scholarship; she’s now serving on Eastern’s advisory board for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

After experiencing the value of applied learning herself, Putnam encourages EWU STEM students to embrace the challenges that come with learning and growing: “There are so many hurdles in college, but those hurdles will set you up well for industries like ours.”

**Story written by Emilia Klewin.

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