Company expands scholarship program to 35 communities across the country
CHICAGO (September 4, 2008) – With baby boomers preparing to retire from the ranks of the skilled workforce, a growing number of labor experts are raising concerns there is a shortage of workers with the critical skills required to replace retirees. Recognizing the growing need, facility maintenance supplier Grainger today announced an almost fourfold increase in its technical education scholarship program from the original nine community colleges to 35 across the country.
“The economic health of America depends on the availability of qualified, skilled workers,” said Grainger President and Chief Executive Officer James T. Ryan. “Grainger is proud to help students complete their technical education through our Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program.”
The expansion comes at the beginning of the third year of the Grainger Tools for TomorrowSM scholarship program. The program provides funding for students at select community colleges throughout the nation to finish their second year of a technical career program such as Automotive Technology, HVAC, Welding, Electrical, Plumbing or Construction Management. Upon graduation, the program recognizes their achievement with a Westward® tool package to successfully launch their careers.
“Students enrolled in technical career programs will help to meet a serious and growing skills gap in our country,” said American Association of Community Colleges President George R. Boggs. “By stepping up to support their efforts, Grainger is not only helping deserving students, but the company is also investing in our nation’s economic success.”
Grainger recently awarded two scholarship to students enrolled in the Automotive Technology Programs at The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Pittsburgh and St. Louis Community College.
Domenic DiMucci, a Pittsburgh resident, was nominated by the school’s faculty to receive the award. His instructors describe him as ‘an excellent student leader who is a team player, self-motivated and dedicated to the trade.’
“I’m really happy to be attending college, and this scholarship is helping with my expenses so that I can focus on my studies and apprenticeship,” reports DiMucci. “In the future, I would like to teach automotive technology at a college like CCAC to influence others like my faculty members here have done for me.”
Before coming to CCAC, Domenic was accepted into the automotive technician program at Crawford County Vocational Technical School and was named the automotive student of the year upon graduation. While there he had the opportunity to join SkillsUSA, during which time he advanced to the state competitions and placed 3rd for automotive technology. In addition to being a full-time student at CCAC, Domenic works at Lake View Ford where he is a member of the Ford ASSET program, which helps pay for his education. Even with his busy life of work and school, Domenic has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and has been selected to the Dean’s List in his first two semesters.
“It is through ongoing partnerships with industry leaders like Grainger that CCAC is able to ensure a well-trained next generation of workers in western Pennsylvania,” said Rose Ann DiCola, executive director of the CCAC Educational Foundation. “Domenic’s hard work and focus proves that Grainger made the right choice in this scholarship selection.”
St. Louis Community College Student and resident Melinda Johnson also received an award.
“I am grateful for Grainger’s generous contribution that has helped to further my career in automotive technology,” said Johnson. “I’ve never really been one to sit at a desk. I prefer to be up and moving, working in a ‘hands-on’ environment. My personality and skills are a perfect match for a career in auto mechanics.”
“The industrial trades are in critical need of trained, skilled workers with an understanding of today’s modernized tools, technologies and processes,” said Ashok Agrawal, Dean of Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Technology at STLCC-Florissant Valley. “We thank Grainger for its support of technical education and for providing financial assistance to our students.”
2008 participating schools include:
o Athens Technical College: Athens, GA
o Central Virginia Community College: Lynchburg, VA
o Cincinnati State and Technical College: Cincinnati, OH
o College of Lake County: Grayslake, IL
o Community College of Allegheny County: Pittsburgh, PA
o Community College of Baltimore County: Baltimore, MD
o Community College of Southern Nevada: Las Vegas, NV
o Elgin Community College: Elgin, IL
o Fletcher Technical Community College: Houma, LA
o Florida Community College: Jacksonville, FL
o GateWay Community College: Phoenix, AZ
o Gateway Community College: New Haven, CT
o Henry Ford Community College: Detroit, MI
o Honolulu Community College: Honolulu, HI
o Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana: Indianapolis, IN
o Joliet Junior College: Joliet, IL
o Kirkwood Community College: Cedar Rapids, IA
o LA Trade Tech: Los Angeles, CA
o Metropolitan Community College: Kansas City, MO
o Miami Dade College: Miami, FL
o Milwaukee Area Technical College: Milwaukee, WI
o Minneapolis Community and Technical College: Minneapolis, MN
o North Lake College: Irving, TX
o Portland Community College: Portland, OR
o Queensborough Community College: Bayside, NY
o Red Rocks Community College: Lakewood, CO
o Saddleback College: Mission Viejo, CA
o Salt Lake Community College: Salt Lake City, UT
o San Jose City College: San Jose, CA
o South Seattle Community College: Seattle, WA
o Springfield Technical Community College: Springfield, MA
o St. Louis Community College: St. Louis, MO
o St. Paul College: Twin Cities, MN
o U of Alaska Fairbanks-Tanana: Fairbanks, AK
o South Texas College: McAllen, TX
Students attending one of the above mentioned schools interested in applying for a scholarship should contact the dean of the trade program.
About Grainger
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 2007 sales of $6.4 billion, is the leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions in Canada, China, Mexico and the United States. Through a highly integrated network including more than 600 branches, 18 distribution centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger’s employees help customers get the job done.
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Tags: Grainger, Grainger news, school, skilled labor, technical college, automotive
Categories: Tech News, Maintenance/Repair News, Automotive News
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