Caterpillar Inc. dealers in the Carolinas in conjunction with the Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) Educational Foundation presented 10 students with a $500 tool scholarship throughout May and June 2017.
The scholarships are awarded based on grade point average (GPA), with the exception of one senior student who received the $500 scholarship based off of a Most Improved recognition. Students who received the scholarships are part of Caterpillar Inc.’s ThinkBIG program that is accredited by the Associated Equipment Distributers. Caterpillar Inc. dealers, Blanchard Machinery, Carolina CAT and Gregory Poole are the program’s current partners.
“The program is designed to build a relationship early with future employees and is part of a global solution to put talented technicians to work in Caterpillar dealerships,” said Stephen Murphey, Director of the Caterpillar Dealer Academy at FDTC. “The internship based program allows for an eight-week paid work experience each semester in addition to a full load of courses facilitated by FDTC. “
On Wednesday, May 10, FDTC’s Caterpillar Dealer Academy senior class of 2017 was awarded the $500 scholarships during graduation at the Country Club of South Carolina.
Senior recipients included: Austin Connor, Carolina CAT Asheville; Seamus Minogue, Carolina CAT Charlotte; Austin Shealy, Blanchard Machinery Columbia; Ryan Shirer, Blanchard Machinery Columbia; and Brandon Suggs, Carolina CAT Charlotte.
The junior class received its scholarships at the Caterpillar Dealer Academy on Wednesday, June 7.
Junior recipients included: Jacob Byrd, Blanchard Machinery Summerville; Travis Gaddis, Carolina CAT Asheville; Cannan Sullens, Carolina CAT Charlotte; Eric Shelton, Blanchard Machinery Summerville; and Matthew Wood, Gregory Poole Raleigh
Murphey says that the junior class is scheduled to join the full-time workforce after graduation in May of 2018.
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