![John C. Kennedy](/gvnext/files/img/article/0D0FA781-0D4C-F4FC-3592F2C9C842628A/47EA873F-97A8-3A56-C8AAD30091777295/original.jpg)
Grand Valley scholarship focuses on manufacturing career needs
![John C. Kennedy](/gvnext/files/img/article/0D0FA781-0D4C-F4FC-3592F2C9C842628A/47EA873F-97A8-3A56-C8AAD30091777295/original.jpg)
A new scholarship in the Seymour and Esther Padnos College of
Engineering and Computing at Grand Valley will address the need for
advanced manufacturing skills in West Michigan, while making education
more accessible for incoming students who are interested in
manufacturing careers.
The Autocam Engineering Scholarship, founded by John C. Kennedy,
Autocam president and Grand Valley Board of Trustees member, will
raise awareness of opportunities in the manufacturing field among high
school students. It will help attract students to engineering careers
by informing them of the level of technological and problem-solving
skills needed in today’s manufacturing environment due to rapidly
advancing technology.
Paul Plotkowski, dean of Padnos College, said this scholarship
will help attract the best and brightest high school students to Grand
Valley, who will contribute to the West Michigan talent pool. The
scholarship demonstrates the university’s continuing commitment to
innovation and provides opportunities for students in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics professions, which are stated
priorities for higher education in Michigan.
“We don’t have nearly enough talent in the manufacturing areas
in West Michigan,” Plotkowski said. “Our students can really
capitalize on the opportunity Autocam and John have presented and be
able to contribute to manufacturing sectors in the area when they
graduate.”
For the 2012-2013 academic year, three eligible Grand Valley
students will be selected to receive full-tuition scholarships.
“Autocam is experiencing rapid growth in our advanced automotive
fuel system technologies, and with that comes a need for talented and
skilled engineers,” Kennedy said. “By investing in students through
this scholarship, we are investing not only in the future of the West
Michigan community but in Autocam’s future as the premier company for
this specialized technology.”
Autocam, based in West Michigan,
is a worldwide manufacturer of precision-machine components for the
automotive and medical instruments industries. Autocam specializes in
high precision components for emerging fuel system technologies,
including gasoline- and diesel-injection, alternative fuels, cylinder
de-activation, and other technologies critical for mandated fuel
economy improvements.
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