Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations (Volkswagen Chattanooga) has established the Volkswagen Mechatronics Scholarship fund to support the students enrolled in the Volkswagen Mechatronics Akademie program. The fund assets are managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.
The Volkswagen Mechatronics Akademie is a workforce development initiative that features a partnership between the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE), Chattanooga State Community College (Chattanooga State) and Volkswagen Chattanooga.
The Chattanooga State portion of the program has a tuition component that many high school students are unprepared to meet. All of the Mechatronic Akadamie students qualified for and were awarded funds from the Volkswagen scholarship, which covers that aspect of their training.
The program features a curriculum for high school students, which allows them to complete their junior and senior years while earning more than 40 credit hours toward an associate degree in Mechatronics at Chattanooga State.
“The Mechatronics Akadamie is the perfect entrée to our post-high school programs in Mechatronics here at the factory and we felt that it was crucial for Volkswagen to support the reemergence of hands-on skills as a vital part of the educational options for students in the Tennessee Valley,” said Scott Wilson, Head of Communications at Volkswagen Chattanooga.
“I encourage others in the Chattanooga area to support skilled training by contributing through the Community Foundation so that these programs can flourish to include many more students in the future,” Wilson said.
Beginning in the fall of 2016, a cohort of 24 juniors from four area high schools (Central, East Hamilton, Ooltewah, and Tyner Academy) enrolled in the program.
“We are delighted to partner with Volkswagen to help students take advantage of an incredible opportunity to build market-value skills,” said Maeghan Jones, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Inc.
“This is a great opportunity for our students,” said Interim HCDE Superintendent Dr. Kirk Kelly.” The Mechatronics Akademie has become a crucial part of our Career and Technical Education, and we are so glad Volkswagen is supporting our Hamilton County students with the establishment of this fund. This successful partnership with VW and Chattanooga State means our students enter the workforce with an excellent education and real-world skills.”
“Chattanooga State is thrilled that Volkswagen has generously agreed to support this important partnership with Hamilton County,” said Biondi, Director of High School Programs.
“The students participating in the Mechatronics Akademie have already exceeded our expectations. With a 98% attendance rate and a dramatic increase in GPA, these students are working hard and their efforts have paid off. Having strong industry partners such as Volkswagen, allows HCDE and Chattanooga State to continue to develop innovative educational opportunities for the students in our community. We are confident that this model of education can be expanded successfully across our service region,” Biondi said.
Classes will provide a combination of high school requirements and Chattanooga State credit. Hamilton County and Chattanooga State instructors will teach students on a schedule that will be flexible to fit the schools involved. Students will require only one additional year of college-level courses to complete their Associate of Applied Science degree in Engineering Systems Technology through Chattanooga State.