MARION, OH – Following on the heels of its wind turbine project announcement, Whirlpool Corporation has created a new scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation to support STEM education for Marion area students. According to Dean Jacob, President and CEO of Marion Community Foundation, Whirlpool Corporation has created this new non-endowed scholarship fund in conjunction with One Energy LLC, the company installing the new wind turbines at Whirlpool’s Marion Operation.
“This collaboration between Marion Community Foundation and Marion’s largest corporate citizen – Whirlpool Corporation — will benefit local students for the next 20 years,” said Jacob. “It will support Marion area students seeking college degrees in STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”
“Each year, $15,000 will be contributed to Marion Community Foundation,” said Joe Hopple, Whirlpool’s Director of Support Operations. “In turn, the Foundation will award to Marion County residents one $5,000 scholarship to students attending any university, $5,000 worth of scholarships to students attending Ohio State Marion, and $5,000 worth of scholarships to Marion Technical College students. No single scholarship award will be less than $1,000.”
Both Ohio State Marion and Marion Technical College are matching Whirlpool and One Energy’s commitment to STEM education and increasing the scholarship awards available.
“We plan to match the funds that we receive dollar-for-dollar in order to expand the scholarship money available to $10,000 per year,” said Dr. Greg Rose, Dean and Director of Ohio State Marion. “At Ohio State Marion, we are continually striving to open new community partnerships to assist us in our commitment to student success. We are honored to have been chosen to annually receive proceeds from the Whirlpool Corporation/One Energy STEM Scholarship Fund.”
“MTC values the investment of Whirlpool and One Energy in the Marion community,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, president of MTC. “These scholarships will help more local residents get the skills and knowledge to succeed in the changing workforce. MTC is also proud to match the scholarship to help our students be at the forefront of the job market.”
The Whirlpool Corporation/One Energy STEM Scholarship Fund will begin making awards during Marion Community Foundation’s 2017 Scholarship Program, the application period for which is open now through March 2, 2017. As part of the Foundation’s annual scholarship program, the application is available online at www.MarionCommunityFoundation.org. Students who complete this application will be considered for all of the 90+ scholarship awards available from Marion Community Foundation, including the new Whirlpool Corporation/One Energy STEM Scholarship.
Applicants for the Whirlpool Corporation/One Energy STEM Scholarship must be intending to pursue an education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math, attend a high school in Marion County, and maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher. Although both high school students and graduates are eligible, special consideration will be given to current high school students. The awards will be available for college expenses, including tuition and fees, books, supplies, and equipment.
Whirlpool Corporation and One Energy have partnered previously to create a STEM scholarship for Hancock County students following the construction of a wind power facility at Whirlpool’s Findlay plant. The Marion Division broke ground on its $10.5 million wind farm project this past December and expects to be producing nearly 20 percent of the Marion plant’s power needs from wind energy later this year.
Additional information on the scholarship partnership between Whirlpool Corporation and One Energy can be found at the website www.megawattscholarships.org. Specific details of the new scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation are available by calling 740-387-9704.