Fifteen Scholarships Awarded for Manufacturing Training

May 11, 2018 | A sense of community: What makes Iowa a great place for manufacturers? Alexandra Monaghan, Elevate Advanced Manufacturing Program Coordinator, amonaghan@measuredintentions.com

Elevate Advanced Manufacturing, a non-profit initiative spreading the word about career opportunities in manufacturing, has awarded 15 $500 scholarships to high school seniors who are going to attend an Iowa community college in the fall for a career in advanced manufacturing.

“Manufacturing firms supply more than 208,858 jobs to Iowans,” said Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. “These well-paying careers require education and training beyond high school, but don’t require the often burdensome cost of a bachelor’s degree. Recent studies have shown that two-year degree holders, especially in high-demand manufacturing occupations, can earn salaries that surpass those of college graduates.”

This year, Elevate Advanced Manufacturing received 58 scholarship applications, and all 15 community colleges will be recognized along with their awardee. Elevate Advanced Manufacturing and the community colleges will award the scholarship at each senior’s high school award ceremony this spring.

The community colleges can choose to award the non-winner applicants with dollars from the college or by asking a local manufacturer company to sponsor a scholarship for the student. Doing so will benefit the college by bringing more students and promoting its advanced manufacturing programs.

In addition to a $500 scholarship, Elevate Advanced Manufacturing scholarship recipients will be honored at the Legends in Manufacturing Award Ceremony on Oct. 2 at Prairie Meadows Event Center.

The 2018 scholarship awardees are:

  • Quinn Swaim, Des Moines Area Community College, Industrial Maintenance and Welding Technician & Technology
  • Graham Walter, Eastern Iowa Community College, Welding Technician & Technology
  • Patrick Kuper, Hawkeye Community College, Industrial Maintenance
  • Quintin McAdams, Indian Hills Community College, CNC, Robotics, Machining
  • Ethan Hauk Dahl, Iowa Central Community College, Transportation & Logistics, Welding Technician & Technology, Diesel Mechanics
  • Jed Knoblock, Iowa Lakes Community College, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
  • Talon Hala, Iowa Valley Community College, Welding Technician & Technology
  • Jonathon Fredericksen, Iowa Western Community College, Design Technology
  • Jonathan Haugland, Kirkwood Community College, Computer Numerical Control, Machining, Manufacturing Technology
  • Matthew Bruce, North Iowa Area Community College, Tool & Die
  • Nathan Simon, Northeast Iowa Community College, Welding Technician & Technology
  • Marcus Hernandez, Northwest Iowa Community College, Welding Technician & Technology
  • Reece Mayes, Southeastern Community College, Industrial Maintenance
  • Brody Neas, Southwestern Community College, Electrical Technologies
  • Clayton Coleman, Western Iowa Community College, Welding Technician & Technology

For more information about manufacturing careers, visit www.elevateiowa.com.