General Dynamics establishes GVSU scholarship

General Dynamics Land Systems has established a scholarship fund at Grand Valley State University for engineering students. This scholarship was initiated and endowed by General Dynamics Land Systems, headquartered in Sterling Heights, Mich., which designs and builds armored vehicles and subsystems for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, and international customers.

'General Dynamics is proud to establish a formal relationship with Grand Valley State University by funding an endowment to assist students pursuing an engineering degree,' said Karl G. Oskoian, manager, Communications and Public Relations, General Dynamics Land Systems. 'We look forward to helping many Grand Valley students in the coming years and to working with the university, especially the outstanding Padnos School of Engineering.'

This gift continues the Padnos School of Engineering's commitment to strong partnerships with industry.

'This generous gift from General Dynamics is yet another sign of the close relationship between the Padnos School of Engineering and the industrial community,' said Paul Plotkowski, director of the Padnos School of Engineering. 'Each year, the General Dynamics Scholarship will allow a student to begin studies in engineering who otherwise may not have been able to pursue this dream. '

The General Dynamics Land Systems Engineering Scholarship will benefit at least one student per year. It will be given to full-time pre-engineering or engineering students in Grand Valley's Padnos School of Engineering. Recipients must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and first priority will be given to scholarship candidates who have financial need.

General Dynamics Land Systems was formed in 1982 when General Dynamics Corp. acquired Chrysler Corporation's defense operations. Land Systems has approximately 5,000 employees in ten states and recorded revenue of $1.2 billion in 2001.