Electrolux Announces Scholarship Program for Johnson C. Smith University and Project L.I.F.T.
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$100,000 Total to Support Students in Science, Technology
Charlotte, February 26, 2013 – Electrolux and Johnson C. Smith University today announced the creation of the Electrolux Science and Technology Scholarships. The company is providing $100,000 in funding over the next four years for students from the L.I.F.T. zone of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools majoring in science and technology subject areas at Johnson C. Smith University.
The scholarships will be available to West Charlotte High School graduates who are enrolled in JCSU’s College of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The scholarships will provide a maximum of $5,000 annually and are renewable. Certain eligibility requirements, such as maintaining defined grade point averages, will apply.
The scholarships are designed to support both entering first-year students and students who are already enrolled but encounter a gap in funding that can derail progress towards graduation. Five scholarships of up to $5,000 each will be available for each of the next four academic years. In addition, recipients may be eligible for internships with the company during or after their junior year.
“Our community and our world need more students who are well-prepared in the STEM subjects,” said Jack Truong, president and CEO of Electrolux Major Appliances North America. “Electrolux is a high-tech company with a storied history of innovation. Our continued success depends on our ability to hire well-trained students with backgrounds in engineering, mathematics and the sciences.”
Truong spoke from the new Electrolux Innovation Center, a complex that showcases the company’s innovative technology and brings together consumer testing with research and development capabilities. He added, “We are delighted to be partnering with Johnson C. Smith in providing educational opportunities to future scientists and engineers.”
Dr. Ronald L. Carter, president of Johnson C. Smith, said, “We thank Electrolux for this important investment in our students to help us prepare them for the competitive global marketplace of STEM-related careers.”
“The greatest investment we can make is an investment in our young people,” said Charlotte Mayor and Project L.I.F.T. founding member Anthony Foxx, who attended the press conference. “We know that the jobs of the future will be heavily concentrated in the fields of science and technology, and in order for Charlotte to continue to compete in the global economy we must have a workforce that is proficient in that skill set.”
The Electrolux Innovation Center complements the design, testing and marketing capabilities that already exist in its Charlotte-based North American headquarters. These include: research and development for laundry products built in North America (opening in 2013); research and development for electronic systems of all major appliances built in North America; product design for all major and small appliances built in North America; and research and development for vacuum products built globally.
To learn more About the Electrolux Science and Technology Scholarships, please contact:
Office of Admissions
Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
704.378.1000
About Electrolux
Electrolux is a global leader in household appliances and appliances for professional use, selling more than 40 million products to customers in more than 150 markets every year. The company focuses on innovative solutions that are thoughtfully designed, based on extensive consumer insight, to meet the real needs of consumers and professionals. Electrolux products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, cookers, air-conditioners and small appliances such as vacuum cleaners sold under esteemed brands like Electrolux, AEG, Eureka and Frigidaire. In 2012 Electrolux had sales of $16.3 billion and 58,000 employees. The Electrolux North American headquarters is located at 10200 David Taylor Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262 in University Research Park, where they have been based for two years. For more information go to www.electrolux.com/press and www.electrolux.com/news/
About Johnson C. Smith University
Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is an independent, close-knit urban university located in Charlotte, N.C. It has a growing national reputation for integrating the liberal arts with business, the sciences and technology in ways that empower tomorrow’s diverse entrepreneurial citizens and leaders. Offering 23 fields of study to more than 1,600 students from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds, the University’s excellent academic programs focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global responsibility. For more information about JCSU, visit www.jcsu.edu or follow the University on social media sites Facebook (www.facebook.com/smithites) and Twitter (@JCSUniversity).
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