Students receive manufacturing engineering scholarships

Three students were recognized at a presentation August 29 as recipients of the Autocam Engineering Scholarship, a new scholarship founded by Autocam President and Grand Valley Trustee John C. Kennedy.

Christopher Foster, from Fruitport; Preston Purdue, from Grand Rapids; and Leah Bauer, from Pinckney, will receive full-tuition scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year.

President Thomas J. Haas, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing Dean Paul Plotkowski, University Development Vice President Karen Loth and John C. Kennedy attended the event to congratulate the recipients.

“For our state, scholarships like this one help encourage the next generation of leaders to explore the critical science, technology, engineering and mathematical disciplines that are a priority for rebuilding Michigan’s economy,” Haas said. “This scholarship will provide our students with the opportunity to not only learn the skills they need to succeed, but it will also allow them to apply those skills before graduation and really have an edge in their future careers.”

The scholarship was created to address the need for advanced manufacturing skills in West Michigan and to make education more accessible for incoming students who are interested in manufacturing careers. 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.

Autocam, based in West Michigan, is a worldwide manufacturer of precision-machine components for the automotive and medical instruments industries.