 |
 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
 |
| Kettering Names Cascade Engineering 2003 West Michigan Cooperative Education Employer of the Year GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, October 21, 2003 – Cascade Engineering, Inc., a world leader in engineered plastic systems and components, today announced it has received an award from one of the nation’s top engineering schools for its ongoing work with students. The 2003 Kettering West Michigan Cooperative Education (Co-op) Employer of the Year Award is given each year by Kettering University, consistently ranked among the top-rated engineering schools in the country according to US News & World Report. Kettering selected Cascade Engineering from a list of approximately 35 West Michigan-based companies, based on the company’s partnership and support of the co-op program. The award is given annually to a company that shows exceptional commitment to student development, continued support of the program and a commitment to matching the right student with the right job to ensure a successful educational experience. “To be named the 2003 Kettering Employer of the Year Award is a tremendous honor,” said Mike Valz, Cascade Engineering president. “Year after year, the Kettering Co-op Program has matched Cascade Engineering with a talented group of student participants, who positively impact the department where they work and the organization as a whole. The program continues to build a strong foundation for our future. By investing in today’s students, we are ensuring that tomorrow’s workforce will be well-equipped.” The program, mandatory for all Kettering students, consists of alternating terms of class study and career-related work. The work component of the program represents a substantial portion of student’s curricula and each student’s level of professional responsibility normally increases as he or she completes advanced coursework. “The program seeks to integrate the theory taught in the classroom with the experience gained in the workplace,” said Carmon Liversedge, Kettering University cooperative education manager. “We believe the experience our students gain working at organizations such as Cascade Engineering is fundamental to their development and gives them a head-start when they graduate and enter workforce.” Kettering University currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate students, ninety percent of which pursue degrees in engineering or applied science. Students in the co-op program are employed at more than 700 organizations in over 800 locations nationwide, including companies such as United Postal Service (UPS), Ford Motor Co. and Federal Mogul Corp. After graduating, an estimated 70 percent of students in the program continue their employment with the company that hired them for the program. In addition to Cascade Engineering, other West Michigan companies who regularly participate in the Co-op program include 2002 award winner Siemens Dematic (formerly Rapistan), Steelcase, Inc., and Johnson Controls, Inc. Cascade Engineering currently employs 13 Kettering students in the program, and has retained seven past participants in their workforce. About Kettering University Founded in 1919 as the School of Automotive Trades, Kettering University shares a rich history with the General Motors Corp. GM acquired the school in 1926 and it prospered as General Motors Institute (GMI). Nurturing its own engineering and management talent and providing cooperative work experiences for GMI students, the school became an independent, private college in 1982. Today, GM is joined by hundreds of other organizations in hiring cooperative education students. GMI changed its name to Kettering University in 1998, honoring Charles F. “Boss” Kettering, a major force in American technological innovation and an individual who was instrumental in the founding GMI. About Cascade Engineering Cascade Engineering is a leader in engineered plastic systems and components. The company provides innovative expertise and intelligent solutions for the automotive, solid waste and industrial markets. The company produces components for OEM customers as well as Cascade Engineering branded products. Cascade Engineering is widely recognized for innovation in material development, engineering and manufacturing, in addition to its management practices. The Cascade Engineering Family of Companies employs more than 1,200 people – approximately 750 in the Grand Rapids area. Contact Brian Edwards or Eric Lubbers Lambert Edwards & Associates, Inc. 616-233-0500 mail@lambert-edwards.com < BACK |
|
 |
|
| Cascade Engineering Home < Press Room < Press Release Archives < 2003 < Kettering Names Cascade Engineering 2003 West Michigan Cooperative Education Employer of the Year | ||
