ETOWA - Waupaca Foundry, a Hitachi Metals company, recently awarded $36,000 in scholarships across the U.S. and $9,000 to Tennessee Valley area graduating high school seniors. Two are children of Waupaca Foundry employees. The iron casting foundry awarded six scholarships to students attending either a four-year college or two-year technical school.

Recipients are:

* Cortney Cronin, a graduate of McMinn County High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend Cleveland State Community College to study occupational therapy. Cronin is the daughter of Jeff Cronin who is an industrial engineer at Waupaca Foundry. Cortney is working in the core room at Waupaca Foundry this summer and said "I'm really glad I was chosen for the scholarship because they are hard to receive. It's comforting to know that I have it going into college."

* Ezekiel Stoika a graduate of McMinn County High School. He was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to study engineering. Stoika is the son of Tim Stoika who is a layout technician at Waupaca Foundry.

* Allysyn Bates a graduate of McMinn County High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to study business.

* Elsie Crisp, a graduate of McMinn Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to study social work. "I hope Waupaca gives so many more the same opportunity to aid in their future aspirations," she said. She will also work in the core room at Waupaca Foundry this summer.

* Bailey Martin, a graduate of McMinn Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to study nursing.

* Nicole Harris, a graduate of McMinn Central High School. She was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and will attend University of Tennessee at Knoxville to study veterinary science. "I am very thankful to have gotten a scholarship and a summer job through Waupaca," she said. "I think this job is going to teach me a great work ethic, and the scholarship is going to help me achieve my dreams."

The scholarship program is a long-standing benefit to Waupaca Foundry employees and many working at the company today are past recipients.

Leaders at the ductile iron foundry say the scholarships are an investment into the company's future.

"We are proud to support teens who are planning careers in STEM fields or fields that apply to our business," said Joey Leonard, executive vice president of human resources. "There is a lot of opportunity for skilled workers to have rewarding careers in manufacturing and we hope one day these students come back and apply what they've learned with us when they graduate."

Human Resources manager Chip (Larry) Chandler said, "Giving talented kids access to a quality education is a great way to improve job prospects for our community and ensure a skilled labor force for the future of our company."

Waupaca Foundry, Inc., North America's leading supplier of iron castings to the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction, and industrial markets, produces gray iron castings, ductile iron castings, HNM series high-strength ductile iron, and austempered ductile iron castings using state of-the-art processes and technology. The manufacturer also specializes in precision machining and assembly.