Kettering University establishes new scholarship program with donation from BorgWarner

The newly established BorgWarner Scholars Program at Kettering University was made possible by a $925,000 donation from the company. BorgWarner, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, made the donation to Kettering with the intent of recruiting students from minority communities. Close to $40,000 will be earmarked annually for this scholarship fund, which will provide students with not only tuition assistance, but also with a full time paid co-op position starting with their freshman year. Another donation of $100,000 from BorgWarner to Kettering will be used by the university to recruit more corporate sponsors.

In a release published in February by Kettering, officials from the university and from BorgWarner explained why the scholarship was established, to address a lack of minority representation in STEM fields. Felecia Pryor, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, BorgWarner Inc., spoke about the partnership with Kettering and the goals of the program, "At BorgWarner, we're dedicated to cultivating a diverse workforce and in order to do so, we need to take action at the student level and help talented, bright, diverse minds overcome the barriers they are facing. We relate well with Kettering University's commitment to education that embodies technology and innovation and believe this endowment will be truly successful in opening doors and creating opportunities for students in the field who are most in need."

According to a Pew Research study from 2018, African Americans and Hispanics are underrepresented in STEM jobs in the U.S., relative to their participation in the overall workforce. The study cites lack of access to high-quality education as a factor in this. The newly established scholarship program seeks to address this disparity through financial assistance and paid co-op rotations starting during a student's freshman year. The two organizations will work together to attract and recruit candidates for the program. 

Sue Davies, Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations at Kettering expressed gratitude to BorgWarner for the donation to the university and for their commitment to the shared goal of increasing diversity in STEM at the university and professional levels. In the release Davies noted, "We are grateful to BorgWarner for investing in experiential, as well as financial, opportunities for students. The impact this, coupled with our unique Co-op and educational experience, will have on these students immediately prepares them to be innovators and leaders in STEM industries around the world. I'm most excited about how this will complement and further enhance our existing Office of Multicultural Students Initiatives (OMSI) which provides tutoring, mentorship and other support services to ensure our students' success."

The check from BorgWarner was presented to Kettering University on February 25, 2021 which included both the $925,000 for the scholarship program and the $100,000 donation to help Kettering acquire more corporate sponsors.