The graduate-level scholarship, which will be awarded to one or more students each year, consists of a $5,000 cash stipend and a paid internship at Continental Teves. Students who earn the scholarship also will serve as graduate assistants at OU's School of Engineering and Computer Science.

"Education is one of our most enduring, priceless assets, and it's truly an honor to give the gift of education to students," said Bill Kozyra, president of Continental Teves North America, who announced the scholarship May 6 while delivering the commencement address to OU's School of Engineering and Computer Science. "Our goal is to support the future of the automotive industry and these professions by helping people who have the potential to leave a positive mark on our global business community. Driving intelligence is a core competency at Continental, so it is natural for us to encourage the development of future engineers and scientists with these scholarships."

The scholarships will be awarded to students who exemplify academic excellence, professionalism and dedication to engineering or computer science. To become eligible, a student must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.4 or higher and be a full-time, first-term graduate student. The first scholarship will be awarded this fall.

"Oakland University is thrilled to be the recipient of this generous scholarship," said Michael Polis, dean of the OU School of Engineering and Computer Science. "Our partnership with Continental Teves helps improve the quality of the education we provide, and is a valuable source of essential real-world experience for our students."

Continental Teves has a long-standing relationship with OU. The corporation has sponsored student internships in the past, the two organizations have collaborated on numerous research contracts, and Continental Teves has been the recipient of several state-paid training grants through the university. In addition, Phil Headley, Continental Teves chief engineer, sits on the advisory board for the OU School of Engineering and Computer Science.

The scholarship comes in the midst of intense change and growth in the engineering and computer science professions. Experts estimate a shortage of one million high-tech workers in the United States by the end of 2005. The state of Michigan is expected to experience the effects of this shortage as the automotive and information technology industries continue to expand at an extraordinarily fast rate.

(May 11, 2000)