Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of commercial, residential and industrial water heating and storage applications, is offering area students an opportunity to offset the full cost of a two-year college degree while working part-time at the company’s Middleville manufacturing plant.
“We’ve launched the Bradford White Scholars Program as a way to support the local community,” said Haleigh Hielkema, a human resources representative for Bradford White. “Balancing work and education can be a challenge for many people. The program can open a path for someone who might not be able to attend college otherwise. For more traditional students, it can relieve financial anxiety, whether that’s paying bills while you’re in school or long-term concerns like student debt.”
The Bradford White Scholars Program is open to anyone pursuing an associate’s degree program at a community college in the Middleville area. Participants work up to 30 hours a week in manufacturing operations and are eligible for up to four semesters of tuition reimbursement.
“I joined the Scholars Program because I wanted to go to school for welding,” said Scholars participant, Sydney Wolf. “Specifically, for me, the Scholars Program is helping me get an idea of what my future career of welding might be like, while also helping me with tuition expenses.”
Students in the Scholars Program must be enrolled in a local community college and maintain passing grades to remain eligible for reimbursement. Any course of study qualifies. Participants earn between $15 and $15.75 and must be available to work nights and weekends. Summer hours are also available.
U.A.W. Local 1002 Committee Chairwoman, Sara Price said “The BWC Scholars Program is a wonderful program that will benefit our community members, by allowing them to further their education through part time work and tuition reimbursement.”
The Scholars Program is open to up to 30 students at a time. The program reimbursement rate is $175 per credit hour for up to 15 credit hours per semester. All classes must be part of a requirement for an accredited associate degree or certificate program.
For more information or to apply for the Bradford White Scholars Program, text (616) 485-6246 or visit https://bradfordwhitecorporation.com/scholarship/.
