Yazaki Awards Scholarships
20 May 1999
Yazaki Awards Scholarships CANTON, Mich., May 19 -- Two Canton graduating high school
students will soon learn that the burden of college tuition will be lessened
when they each are awarded $5,000 scholarships at separate honors
convocations. The scholarships were made possible thanks to a $10,000
donation by Canton-based Yazaki North America, a global supplier of automotive
electrical and electronic components.
Plymouth-Salem High School Senior Katherine Marie Robiadek, will receive
her award Wednesday night. Robiadek plans on a career in foreign relations
and will study political science at Michigan State University next fall.
Plymouth-Canton High School Senior Kirt McKee, who will study pre-med at
the University of Michigan next fall, will receive his award Thursday night.
Administered through the Canton Community Foundation (CCF), the
scholarships required that applicants: have an overall grade point average of
3.0 or better; be a resident of Canton; write an essay on their professional
intentions; and have been accepted to an accredited Michigan college or
university.
The CCF Education Grant Committee made the final selection of scholarship
recipients. Partially funded by local businesses, corporations and non-profit
organizations, the CCF helps fund and distribute more than 20 college
scholarships annually to Canton-area students.
"This is a very generous gift from our friends at Yazaki," said Joan
Noricks, CCF president. "I am not at all surprised by their contribution,
especially to benefit the education of our young people. This is just another
demonstration of what an important and responsible corporate citizen Yazaki
has become to the Canton area," said Noricks. She added that the average
amount of a college scholarship is about $500.
Tom Moore, vice president of finance and information systems at Yazaki,
and a CCF board member, said the company is happy to invest in a community
that has been so supportive to it and its people.
"There is no other community that we know of as hospitable and gracious as
Canton," said Moore. "The people of Canton have taken interest in Yazaki, its
people and its culture. We feel very much at home here in Canton, and will
continue to support it," said Moore.
Moore said both McKee and Robiadek may speak briefly at the grand opening
of Yazaki's new 425,000 square foot North American headquarters next month.
Headquartered in Canton, Mich., Yazaki North America, Inc. is a global
leader in the development and manufacturing of wiring harnesses, junction
blocks, modules, electronics and advanced technology for the automotive
industry. Worldwide the company employs more than 90,000 people, including
approximately 1,500 in Canton.
