MEDC aims to recruit talent and fill jobs in Michigan’s semiconductor, electric vehicle industries that are key to helping grow state’s population now and in the future

FLINT, Mich. – Kettering University and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) today introduced the 26 Kettering students who represent the university’s inaugural class of The Michigander Scholars recipients, the largest incoming class total produced by any Michigan public or private university.

The program offers scholarships for $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. 

They were honored as Kettering’s first-ever winners of the state’s coveted scholarship incentive in partnership with General Motors (13 students), Ford (5 students), BorgWarner (3 students), Bosch (3 students), ZF (1 student) and Hemlock Semiconductor (1 student).

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.

“Kettering University is proud to be the only private school approved for The Michigander Scholars initiative by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,” said Kettering President, Dr. Robert K. McMahan (left) during a press conference at the campus that coincided with its spring employment fair, which included nearly 400 students connecting with over 100 companies from Michigan and other states.

“The Michigander Scholars program is a robust talent retention strategy that aligns with Kettering’s co-op model with the mission to provide real hands-on work experience promoting key careers and providing highly educated talent and graduates to fill in-demand jobs in Michigan’s high-tech industries,” McMahan said.

It’s 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 Michigander Scholars 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 (left).

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 Michigan Scholars program was expanded to make sophomores and graduate students eligible for scholarships and computer and process engineers were added as career roles. Also, the MEDC added Kettering University in Flint and Wayne State University in Detroit as new higher education partners, as well as several new employers, including Hemlock Semiconductor, SK Siltron CSS, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Mobis.

Those companies join existing employer partners participating in the program such as General Motors, Ford, Hemlock Semiconductor, BorgWarner, LG Energy Solutions and DENSO, while Kettering and Wayne State join the MEDC’s existing higher ed partnerships with Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University and the University of Michigan campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint.

See the full list of employer and university participants in The Michigander Scholars program.

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 that are key to helping grow the state’s population now and in the future.

Among the reasons the bipartisan Growing Michigan Together Council cited in its 2023 report for Michigan’s student exodus is a lack of access to internships and opportunities for meaningful on-the-job experience prior to entering the full-time workforce. In the absence of a clear track for career growth with a Michigan-based company, young talent will continue to seek high-paying jobs with employers in other states and regions with concentrated industries and networks of professionals, exacerbating the state’s existing labor shortage.

The benefits provided through The Michigander Scholars program is a start on the path toward reversing that trend, according to MEDC, Kettering and industry leaders. Kettering, for example, was selected among the nation’s best universities for co-ops and internships by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024 rankings.

CNN recently highlighted The Michigander Scholars program, as among a trend of many states and cities that are seizing the opportunity to attract new residents through innovative incentives. From tax breaks to cash incentives, these programs are designed to attract a diverse range of talent and strengthen local economies.

Recognized are the Kettering University inaugural class of Michigander Scholars:

• GM – FULL-TIME AWARDS
  • Henry Grasman, Flushing, MI, Powers High School, Class of 2024, Computer Engineering
  • Alex Moening, Highland, MI, Milford High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Drew Taylor, Fenton, MI, Fenton High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Matthew Veneziano, Jackson, MI, Western High School, Class of 2024, Computer Engineering
• GM – CO-OP AWARDS
  • Bryan Burkhardt, Goodrich, MI, Davison High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Nicholas Dodge, Canton, MI, Salem High School, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
  • Ian Gibson, Highland, MI, Milford High School, Class of 2026, Electrical Engineering
  • David Glover, St. Louis, MO, St. Mary’s High School, Class of 2025, Computer Science
  • Sophia Hazelwood, North Branch, MI, North Branch High School, Class of 2026, Computer Science
  • Brenden Londeau, White Lake, MI, International Academy West, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Roan Patrick, Milford, MI, International Academy, Class of 2026, Industrial Engineering
  • Ryan Stiles, Farmington Hills, MI, Farmington High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
  • Brandon Bednarz, South Lyon, MI, Dexter High School, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering
• FORD MOTOR COMPANY – FULL-TIME AWARDS
  • Jacqueline Kocik, Red Hook, NY, Red Hook Senior High School, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering
  • Logan Taylor, DeWitt, MI, DeWitt High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Megan Wojciechowski, East Amherst, NY, Clarence High School, Mechanical Engineering
• FORD MOTOR COMPANY – CO-OP AWARDS
  • Matthew Attisha, Shelby Township, Utica Center for Math, Science, and Technology, Class of 2024, Computer and Electrical Engineering
  • Doug Ray, Rochester, MI, Stoney Creek High School, Class of 2025, Computer and Electrical Engineering
• BORGWARNER – CO-OP AWARDS
  • Mason Dalrymple, Blanchard, MI, Montabella High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • David Faulkner, Holly, MI, Holly High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jaydin Freeman, Auburn Hills, MI, Avondale High School, Class of 2025, Computer Science
• BOSCH – CO-OP AWARDS
  • Lance Lipasek, Clinton Township, Chippewa Valley High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jacob Nelson, Sterling Heights, MI, Cousino High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
  • Frank Tilli, Clarkston, MI, Detroit Country Day High School, Class of 2025, Computer Science
• ZF – CO-OP AWARD
  • Kevin Lawrence, Davison, MI, Davison High School, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering
• HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR – CO-OP AWARD
  • Andres Flores, Saginaw, MI, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Class of 2024, Mechanical Engineering

About Kettering University
Kettering University, formerly known as GMI, is a Flint, Mich.-based private, nonprofit university recognized as one of the nation’s premier science, technology, engineering and business leaders in higher education. Dedicated to offering a curriculum that uniquely integrates classroom learning with experiential co-operative opportunities, Kettering consistently places in U.S. News & World Report’s listing for elite specialty schools. The University has more than 27,000 feet of lab and research space used by faculty, students and industry collaborators, and boasts the only ABET-accredited applied physics program in the world. It also houses the first and only FIRST Robotics Community Center in the United States. According to a 2019 analysis of federal data ranking 4,500 schools nationwide, Kettering University degree holders have the highest lifetime return on investment (ROI) in the state of Michigan. The University celebrated its centennial year in 2019. For more, go to kettering.edu.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.