New scholarship available at Macomb Community College for advanced manufacturing students
The scholarship was established by the Dichtel family in honor of the late Ronald J. Dichtel, who founded Concord Tool and Manufacturing.
Macomb Community College students who are studying advanced manufacturing or skilled trades may be eligible for a new scholarship established by the Dichtel family in honor of the late Ronald J. Dichtel, who was the founder of Concord Tool and Manufacturing. The $20,000 gift made to the college to establish the scholarship came on the 60th anniversary of the company’s founding.
According to an article on Macomb Community College’s website, Ronald’s daughter Julie Dichtel was quoted as saying, “Giving back the community has always been important to my dad. He encouraged us to help everybody, not just his family and friends but the community at large. He had a dream of starting his own business, and we’re hoping this scholarship will impact a student with a similar dream.”
Echoing these sentiments, Mark Dichtel, Ronald’s son and the CEO of Concord Tool and Manufacturing, said of the students who may benefit from the scholarship, “I hope they follow in my dad’s footsteps, and they take his entrepreneurial spirit and the technological skills they are learning from school and apply it to their profession.”
In order to be eligible for the Ronald J. Dichtel Scholarship, students must be enrolled in one of the following certificate or associate degree programs: CNC machinist, CAM technologist, welding, or tool and die. Additionally, they must be a US citizen and have at least a 2.0 grade point average. Students do not have to complete the FAFSA to apply for the scholarship and will be considered regardless of their financial need. The scholarship will cover full tuition for selected students and will begin to be awarded in the Fall 2025 semester.
Ronald Dichtel was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1936 and served in the US Army. When he was 29 years old, he founded and built Concord Tool and Manufacturing. According to his family, Ronald spent his life committed to the community, his colleagues, and his employees.
For more information about Macomb Community College, visit the school’s website.