Industry Alliance Scholarship Winners

MONROEVILLE, ALABAMA – Dr. William O. Blow, Interim President, Alabama Southern Community College recently announced the scholarship recipients for the Alabama Southern Industry Alliance for a Technologically Advanced Workforce.

All scholarship students and their parents were honored with a signing banquet on April 27th.
Alabama River Pulp
Nathan Baggett – J.U. Blacksher High School
Michael Mullins – Clarke County High School
David Skinner, Jr. – Excel High School

BASF
Joshua Howard – Alabama Southern Community College
Deion Johns – Thomasville High School
Whitt Lee – Millry High School
Preston Quillen – Alabama Southern Community College
Ross Hutto – Millry High School

Boise
John Moore – Clarke Preparatory School
Coleman Stifflemire – Alabama Southern Community College

Olin
Caleb Kirkland – Millry High School

Rock-Tenn
Jeffrey Green – Sweet Water High School
Mitchell Hudgins – Sweet Water High School

"Advanced technology is a top priority at Alabama River Pulp, but it is our dedicated workforce that truly gives us a competitive edge in today's global marketplace," said Robert A. "Pete" Black, Jr., Executive Vice President/General Manager. "Our company has been very pleased with the quality of the Alabama Southern Pulp & Paper Technology students who have served internships with our mill and with the knowledge and skills of the program graduates that we have hired. In fact, we now prefer job candidates with this degree. ARP is proud to co-sponsor the Alabama Southern Pulp & Paper Technology Program and we are pleased to offer scholarships to these recipients."

The Industry Alliance was first announced in December of 2004. These scholarships are for one of four advanced technology programs depending upon industry needs: (1) Paper and Chemical Technology, (2) Instrumentation and Electronics, (3) Industrial Maintenance and Electrical Technology, and (4) Machine Technology Millwright.

"Boise is proud to present this scholarship to these students. They have demonstrated through academic accomplishment, testing, and interview that they are deserving recipients. It is important to us that our local students have opportunities such as this to prepare themselves for future employment in the area," said Rick Grant, General Manager of Boise.

Tom McAdams, Site Manager at BASF Corporation in McIntosh, said, "Our partnership with Alabama Southern Community College is a huge success. These scholarships provide local students an excellent opportunity to gain the advanced technology needed to join our workforce. Students graduating from this program are ready to go to work with the skills needed to secure a position and the drive to advance."

One major objective of the Alabama Southern Industry Alliance is to fund and support the scholarships - internships - jobs initiative. The Alliance forms a win - win - win alliance by funding scholarships for students to enter one of Alabama Southern's Advanced Technology programs, hosting the students for paid internships and giving the students consideration for vacant positions.

Alabama Southern Community College's Industry Alliance for a Technologically Advanced Workforce was selected as one of the top ten national Bellwether Finalists for the prestigious 2006 Bellwether Award for Workforce Development by the Community College Futures Assembly.