Continental Offers Scholarships to WPCC Students
Morganton, NC – In an effort to develop local talent for good paying jobs as Maintenance Technicians, Continental’s Morganton Automotive Plant has partnered with Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) to establish the Continental Maintenance Technician Scholarship.
Offered through the Western Piedmont Foundation (WPF), scholarships will be provided to students pursuing Associate in Applied Science degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering. Students who are awarded scholarships will have expenses paid that cover most cost associated with full-time enrollment at WPCC. Awarded students, in addition to meeting regularly with a Continental employee who will serve as a mentor, will receive work-based (co-op) learning experience during the second and fourth semesters of their programs.
“We have an urgent need for employees with the skills learned in these programs,” said David Jones, plant manager of Continental’s Morganton facility. “This is a way for us to meet that need while also helping the Morganton community with good paying, stable jobs.”
Six scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 and full-time enrollment in WPCC’s Associate in Applied Science Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology or Mechanical Engineering Technology programs. These scholarships will cover most expenses associated with enrollment in these programs.
To qualify for the scholarship, candidates must complete the Career Readiness Certification with a silver status or higher. They must also complete the Applied Technology WorkKeys assessment. Verification of these scores must be included in the scholarship application.
To learn more about these assessments and to schedule a testing time, call Faith Schmitt with WPCC’s Division of Workforce Development at 828-448-6145. Tests are offered every other Friday and practice times are available.
Along with receiving this scholarship, each recipient will have the opportunity to participate in a co-op experience at Continental. Upon completing the first co-op class and receiving a satisfactory review and recommendation from Continental officials, each student will be eligible to renew the scholarship for the second year. Students receiving this scholarship may also have the opportunity to gain part-time or full-time employment at Continental following their co-op experience.
The deadline for applying for the scholarship is Monday, July 14.
For more information on the Continental Maintenance Technician Scholarship, contact Michael Daniels, WPCC Science, Engineering & Mathematics dean, at 828-448-3564 or mdaniels@wpcc.edu, or Tonja Suttles, WPCC financial aid counselor, at 828-448-3597 or tsuttles@wpcc.edu.
To apply for curriculum classes, visit wpcc.edu and select Apply Now!
Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina, and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Each year, more than 10,700 students pursue personal enrichment, new skills for a job or career, high school diplomas, college degrees, and transfer pathways. The application due date for new students for Fall Semester is Monday, July 14. Apply online or visit the Western Piedmont campus to apply in person.