MEDC for Michigander Scholars Program logo featuring an EV

Kettering University Announces Largest New Class of MEDC Michigander Scholars 

57 students will receive the state’s coveted scholarship incentives of $5,000 for Co-ops and up to $10,000 for accepting full-time positions and agreeing to live and work in the Great Lakes State for one year after graduation

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Kettering University, founded to support workforce and talent development in 1919, is proud to be a partner in MEDC's mission to recruit talent and fill jobs in Michigan’s mobility, electric vehicle, and semiconductor industries.

FLINT, Mich. — Kettering University and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) have named 57 Kettering students to represent the University’s fourth class of Michigander Scholars. This is the largest cohort of students to benefit from the program since Kettering University began granting the awards in the spring of 2024. The innovative Michigander Scholars program offers scholarships of $5,000 and up 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 as a software developer (or synonymous job titles) with a participating company. More than 150 scholarships have been awarded to date, and more than 100 Kettering students and recent graduates have been recognized as part of this groundbreaking program.

The Michigander Scholars program offers exclusive opportunities for top tech and engineering students in Michigan, including career guidance, paid internships, and networking opportunities with industry employers. Participating universities gain valuable insights into the skills employers seek, and key employers across the state benefit from early access to a pipeline of highly skilled talent. Many of Kettering's Co-op employer partners are qualified employers as part of this program, including Ford, GM, BorgWarner, Bosch, Hemlock Semiconductor, Magna, Mahle, Nissan, Our Next Energy Inc., and ZF.

“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 Kerry Ebersole Singh, MEDC Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer, during a joint MEDC-Kettering University press conference last Spring on Kettering’s campus. “The Michigander Scholars program is a win-win-win. Michigan benefits by promoting its top-tier universities; students gain invaluable hands-on workforce training through paid internships; and our state’s innovative companies secure a steady stream of highly educated, motivated professionals. This program exemplifies what’s possible when public and private sectors collaborate for a brighter future.”

The Michigander Scholars program, the first of its kind in the United States, represents an unprecedented public-private partnership with some of Michigan’s leading advanced manufacturing employers and universities. The MEDC’s mission is to increase the retention of college graduates in critical areas of Michigan’s growing technology and knowledge economy. This MEDC initiative is a vital talent retention strategy that promotes key careers, recruits talent, and fills in-demand jobs in the semiconductor and electric vehicle industries, industries essential to Michigan’s economic growth.

Kettering University's unique 50-50 blend of rigorous academics and paid Co-op employment is ideally positioned to support this initiative. U.S. News & World Report recently recognized Kettering as one of the nation’s best universities for Co-ops and internships, and the Wall Street Journal named it one of the top 10 colleges in the country for career preparation. The University also ranks No. 1 in Michigan in return on investment (ROI) for undergraduate studies, according to PayScale.com.

The fourth class of Kettering University Michigander Scholars includes:

  • FORD FULL-TIME AWARD
    • David Faulkner, Holly, Michigan, Holly High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
    • Amanda Koziol, Shelby Township, Michigan, Eisenhower Senior High School, Class of 2024, Computer Science
  • FORD CO-OP AWARD
    • Thomas Borst, Plymouth, Michigan, Plymouth High School, Class of  2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Easton Brissette, Fairgrove, Michigan, Seton Home Study School, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
    • Olivia Brothers, White Lake, Michigan, Lakeland High School, Class of 2025, Computer Science
    • Janice James, Biloxi, Mississippi, St. Hugh’s High School for Girls, Class of 2027, Computer Science
    • Megan Judd, Warren, Michigan, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Class of 2026, Electrical Engineering
    • Justin Poiner, Wixom, Michigan, Walled Lake Western High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Hailey Rowley, Jackson, Michigan, Northwest High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
  • GM FULL-TIME AWARD
    • Jackson Alarie, Clarkston, Michigan, Clarkston High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
    • Daniel Barta, Harrison Township, Michigan, University Liggett School, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering
    • Tyler Bourassa, Linden, Michigan, Linden High School, Class of 2024, MBA
    • Nathan Cahilig, Warren, Michigan, International Academy of Macomb, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
    • Robbie Dehaan, Ortonville, Michigan, Brandon High School, Class of 2024, Computer Engineering
    • Brenden Londeau, White Lake, Michigan, International Academy West, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
    • Khushi Mann, Sterling Heights, Michigan, Sterling Heights High School, Class of 2023, Mechanical Engineering
    • Alayna Reed, Clinton Township, Michigan, Class of 2023, Electrical Engineering
  • GM CO-OP AWARD
    • Paige Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Class of 2025, Industrial Engineering
    • Alyssa Hagan, Highland, Michigan, International Academy West Campus, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Shane Hurley, Canton, Michigan, Canton High School, Class of 2026, Computer Engineering
    • Ria Kapoor, Northville, Michigan, Northville High School, Class of 2028, Management
    • Camden Knaak, Hudsonville, Michigan, Jenison High School, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
    • Patrick Pilchowski, Highland, Michigan, Milford High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
    • Abhiram Sanikommu, Troy, Michigan, Troy High School, Class of 2027, Computer Science
    • Ethan Shaw, Howell, Michigan, Hartland High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Christa Spencer, Ortonville, Michigan, Brandon High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Ryan Stiles, Gladwin, Michigan, Farmington High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Brandon Vivian, Milford, Michigan, Milford High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
    • Grayson Whaley, Rochester, Michigan, Stoney Creek High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
  • BORGWARNER FULL-TIME AWARD
    • Jordan Stolberg, Rochester, New York, Brighton High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • BORGWARNER CO-OP AWARD
    • Justin Bankston, Harper Woods, Michigan, Renaissance High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
    • Valeria Dillanes Gonzalez, Bahla De Banderas, Mexico, Harkness Institute, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
    • Xavier Omozokpia, Clinton Township, Michigan, DeLaSalle Collegiate High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Noah Spriet, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
  • BOSCH CO-OP AWARD
    • Alexandra Cabaj, Fenton, Michigan, Hartland High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
    • Logan Greshak, Middleville, Michigan, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Bassam Jehangir, Bedford, New Hampshire, Bedford High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
    • Alexandra Kerry, Richmond, Michigan, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
    • Andreas Lanni, Commerce Township, Michigan, Detroit Catholic Central High School, Class of 2025, Computer Science
    • Lance Lipasek, Washington, Michigan, Chippewa Valley High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Liam McCullough-Campbell, Ottawa Hills, Ohio, Ottawa Hills High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
    • David Strzelewicz, West Bloomfield, Michigan, St. Mary's Preparatory, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
  • HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR CO-OP AWARD
    • Rameira Davis, Flint, Michigan, Genesee Early College, Class of 2027, Chemical Engineering
    • Michael Huot, Fenton, Michigan, Lake Fenton High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
  • MAGNA FULL-TIME AWARD
    • Nicholas Young, Highland, Michigan, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering
  • MAGNA CO-OP AWARD
    • Sarah Samji, Troy, Michigan, Class of 2026, Computer Science
    • Joseph Vandeputte, Clarkston, Michigan, Clarkston High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • MAHLE CO-OP AWARD
    • Christopher Ciak, Swartz Creek, Michigan, Swartz Creek High School, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
    • Connor O'Keefe, Vancouver, Washington, iTech Preparatory, Class of 2025, Computer Science
    • Parker Rath, Fenton, Michigan, Genesee Christian High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
    • Benjamin Spore, Howell, Michigan, Howell High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • NISSAN FULL-TIME AWARD
    • Paige Hunger, Almont, Michigan, Almont High School, Class of 2023, Mechanical Engineering
  • OUR NEXT ENERGY INC. FULL-TIME AWARD
    • Aaron Spengler, Rockford, Michigan, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • ZF CO-OP AWARD
    • Jace Hund, Howell, Michigan, Howell High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Jace Kanitz, Shelby Township, Michigan, Utica High School, Class of 2027, Chemical Engineering
    • Mario Moustafa, Warren, Michigan, Bishop Foley Catholic High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
    • Blake Ronne, Shelby Township, Michigan, Eisenhower Senior High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering