Kettering University announces 38 new MEDC Michigander Scholars recipients

Kettering University Announces 38 New MEDC Michigander Scholars Recipients

Kettering University and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) have named 38 Kettering students who represent the University's second class of Michigander Scholars. The program offers scholarships of $5,000 to $10,000 to qualifying Scholars who complete a Co-op (or internship) and/or accept a full-time position as a computer, electrical, or process engineer, or software developer (or synonymous job titles) with a participating company and commit to staying in Michigan for 12 months. Read more about program opportunities here. The entire list of Kettering University students who earned these scholarships is at the end of this release.

The Michigander Scholars program is the first of its kind in the U.S. and represents an unprecedented public-private partnership with some of Michigan's major advanced manufacturing employers and universities. The MEDC's aim is to improve on retaining college graduates in the most critical areas of the growing technology and knowledge economy. The Michigander Scholars program is a critical talent retention strategy by the MEDC that will promote key careers, recruit talent, and fill in-demand jobs in the semiconductor and electric vehicle industries, which are key to helping grow the state's population now and in the future.

In its 2023 report, the bipartisan Growing Michigan Together Council cited a lack of access to internships and opportunities for meaningful on-the-job experience before entering the full-time workforce as one reason for Michigan's student exodus. The Michigander Scholars program aims to reverse that trend by offering more such educational experiences in the state. Kettering University is well suited for this task as the school has specialized in a unique 50/50 blend of rigorous academics and paid Co-op employment since its inception in 1919. In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Kettering as one of the nation's best universities for Co-ops and internships.

"Kettering University has a long history of preparing students to meet and exceed the rigorous demands of the state's most innovative industries. The Michigander Scholars program is a robust talent retention strategy that aligns perfectly with Kettering's Co-op model and our mission to provide our students with an educational experience built upon a best-in-class education combined with hands-on work experience," said Kettering President, Dr. Robert K. McMahan.

"One powerful result of our talented students and graduates building careers here is they act as critical fuel for Michigan's high-tech industries, whose success is built upon attracting and retaining highly educated, accomplished, and motivated graduates. Kettering University is proud to be one of only a handful of institutions and the only private school approved for The Michigander Scholars initiative," said McMahan.

The Michigander Scholars program is one of many innovative solutions developed by the MEDC Talent Solutions division to help meet the tech workforce recruitment challenges of Michigan's major industries. The program offers top tech and engineering students in Michigan an exclusive close-up of the EV/mobility and semiconductor sectors, career guidance and job-seeking support, and networking opportunities with industry employers. Universities are provided with additional lines of sight into the skills that employers are looking for in students and key employers across the state have early and direct access to a pipeline of talent for internships and new postgrad positions.

"We are creating top talent here in Michigan, but that's not enough - we must also be proactive to retain our young professionals and ensure that experienced talent can continue to thrive in Michigan," said MEDC Executive Vice President & Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer Kerry Ebersole Singh during the joint MEDC/Kettering University press conference held March 20 on the University's campus.

"The Michigander Scholars program presents a win-win-win scenario," Ebersole Singh said. "Michigan wins by promoting our advanced manufacturing employers, career opportunities, and top-tier universities. It's a win for students at Michigan colleges and Michiganders attending college out of state to gain real-world, hands-on workforce training through paid internships. And it's a win for our state's innovative companies to develop talent pipelines that are fundamental to their success."

In February, the MEDC added Kettering University in Flint and Wayne State University in Detroit as new higher education partners. With Kettering's unique Co-op and academic programs in mind, computer and process engineers were added to the list of career roles eligible for scholarships. At the same time, the Michigan Scholars program was expanded to allow for sophomores and graduate students to be eligible for participation.

Kettering University's partnership with the MEDC was announced during the 2024 Spring Co-op fair, which provided the ideal stage for the announcement. Those in attendance included prospective and current Kettering students and more than 100 Co-op employer partners, many of whom could potentially become part of the Michigan Scholars program.

Several new employers also joined the program, including Hemlock Semiconductor, SK Siltron CSS, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Mobis. Those companies joined existing employer partners that included General Motors, Ford, BorgWarner, LG Energy Solutions, and DENSO.

The full list of employer and university participants in The Michigander Scholars program is athttps://www.michiganbusiness.org/why-michigan/workforce/the-michigander-scholarship/.

Recognized are the Kettering University Michigander Scholars.

• GM - FULL-TIME AWARDS
  • James (Robbie) Dehaan, Ortonville, MI, Brandon High School, Class of 2024 Computer Engineering
  • Brett Langland, Southington, CT, Southington High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Zachary Rosol, Harper Woods, MI, Henry Ford II High School, Computer Engineering
  • Felipe Villalobos, Richmond, CA, Making Waves Academy, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
• GM - CO-OP AWARDS
  • Nathan Cahilig, Warren, MI, International Academy of Macomb, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering
  • Danielle Ciokajlo, Farmington Hills, MI, Farmington High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
  • Alyssa Hagan, Highland, MI, International Academy West Campus, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Camden Knaak, Hudsonville, MI, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
  • Julie Marchioni, St. Clair Shores, MI, Lake Shore High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Joseph Phan, Grand Rapids, MI, West Catholic High School, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
  • Ashmit Swarnkar, Novi, MI, Novi High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
  • Brandon Vivian, Milford, MI, Milford High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
• FORD MOTOR COMPANY - FULL-TIME AWARDS
  • Leah Garcynski, Canton, MI, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering
  • Ethan VanCoillie, St Clair Shores, MI, Lakeview High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
• FORD MOTOR COMPANY - CO-OP AWARDS
  • Thomas Borst, Plymouth, MI, Plymouth High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
  • Easton Brissette, Fairgrove, MI, Seton Home Study School, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
  • Olivia Brothers, White Lake, MI, Lakeland High School, Class of 2025, Computer Science
  • Janice James, Biloxi, MS, St. Hugh's High School for Girls, Class of 2027, Computer Science
  • Megan Judd, Warren, MI, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Class of 2026, Electrical Engineering
  • Justin Poiner, Wixom, MI, Walled Lake Western High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Andrew Ricard, Macomb, MI, Class of 2026, Computer Science
  • Hailey Rowley, Jackson, MI, Northwest High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
  • Jazmin Thomas, Mount Morris, MI, Class of 2025, Computer Science
• BORGWARNER - CO-OP AWARDS
  • Jackson Alarie, Clarkston, MI, Clarkston High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Matthias Mackay, Zionsville, IN, Lutheran High School of Indianapolis, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
  • Alexis Taylor, Mount Clemens, Chippewa Valley High School, Class of 2026, Industrial Engineering
• BOSCH - CO-OP AWARDS
  • Alexandra Cabaj, Fenton, MI, Hartland High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
  • Adria Dixon, Bloomfield Hills, MI, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
  • Logan Greshak, Middleville, MI, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Alexandra Kerry, Richmond, MI, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
  • Liam McCullough-Campbell, Ottawa Hills, OH, Ottawa Hills High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
  • Timothy Vokal, Midland, MI, Midland High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
• MAGNA - CO-OP AWARD
  • Joseph Vandeputte, Clarkston, MI, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
• MAHLE - CO-OP AWARD
  • Gavin Krebs, Cranberry Township, PA, North Catholic High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Connor O'Keefe, Vancouver, WA, iTech Preparatory, Class of 2025, Computer Science
• MOBIS - CO-OP AWARD
  • Ansh Suryavanshi, New Delhi, India, Class of 2026, Computer Science
• ZF - CO-OP AWARD
  • Jace Hund, Howell, MI, Howell High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jace Kanitz, Shelby Township, MI, Utica High School, Class of 2027, Chemical Engineering

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