Mitsubishi Chemical America supports Mechatronics students with scholarships and careers

Tidewater Community College is the recipient of a $5,000 donation from Mitsubishi Chemical America in support of scholarships for high school students. This donation brings the company’s giving to TCC to $21,225 over the last five years.

Mitsubishi Chemical America’s donation supports scholarships for Chesapeake Public School students dual enrolled in the college’s Mechatronics program. The goal of the program is to prepare students for work in advanced manufacturing upon graduation.

“Our industry leaders tell us that they are in need of skilled technicians, and our graduates are well prepared for the work ahead,” said Beno Rubin, Dean of the college’s Manufacturing and Transportation Pathway.  “We’re grateful for the support of our industry partners as we train the next generation of technicians.”

Students start taking classes in their junior and senior years on TCC’s Chesapeake Campus, training in state-of-the-art labs with professors who have abundant industry experience. Classes cover everything from industrial robotics, digital systems, electric motor control, programmable logic control and instrumentation.

“Manufacturing has changed considerably since we began operations in Chesapeake 30 years ago. The TCC Mechatronics program develops a technically skilled workforce that will help us continue to innovate in the years to come,” said Bill Yannetti, Chief Operating Officer of Mitsubishi Chemical America – ALPOLIC Division.

Mitsubishi Chemical America was among a group of local manufacturing firms that launched this scholarship in 2018. Company representatives also serve on TCC’s advisory committee for Mechatronics.