European value-added aluminium firm Constellium NV announced this week the extension of another ten scholarships to West Virginia University Parkersburg via the firm’s Skilled Trades Scholarship program.
The program is a longstanding partnership between the two institutions to help chosen high school students to achieve an associate’s degree in Multi-Craft Technology or Reliability and Maintenance Technology. Upon achieving their degrees, participants in the program are eligible to enter into full-time employment with Constellium’s Ravenswood plant.
Buddy Stemple, CEO of Constellium Ravenswood LLC, noted the importance of the program to his aluminium rolling operations in a related press release.
“This is a great opportunity for students to earn a degree and start a skilled trade career with us. We are always eager to train and recruit talent in our local communities and we thank West Virginia University Parkersburg for their leadership and their long-term partnership with us. I would also like to thank the West Virginia Department of Commerce and our local leaders for their continued support and engagement.”
Dr. Torie Jackson, WVU Parkersburg Vice President of Institutional Advancement, said the program was of particular importance to her institution as well.
“This is a real opportunity for students in the Mid-Ohio Valley to experience an academic path to a trades position. By partnering with companies like Constellium, we are able to provide programs that meet the needs of employers and help students find employment.”
Constellium, based in Amsterdam, was founded 1855 as Henri Merle et Compagnie and subsequently renamed Pechiney in 1950. Pechiney was purchased by Alcan in 2003, which was purchased by Rio Tinto in 2007. In 2011 Rio Tinto sold Alcan Engineered Products to Apollo Management (51%) and FSI (10%). Constellium produces rolled and extruded aluminium products from various alloys, bringing in €4.9 billion of revenue in 2020.