First Recipients Of Nissan Industrial Maintenance Scholarships Are Awarded

Two Franklin County high school seniors have been named as the first recipients of the inaugural Nissan Industrial Maintenance Training Scholarship. Award winners Chase Gardner from Huntland High School and Cody Hopkins from Franklin County High School will begin their full-time studies at the Shelbyville branch of the Tennessee Technology Center this fall.

The Nissan scholarship will pay full tuition costs, including books and supplies, for up to five trimesters.  As they work toward certification in industrial maintenance, both students will learn how to troubleshoot, disassemble, repair and reassemble hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and electrical systems on industrial machinery.

“Nissan is committed to supporting education, and we are also eager to help develop a highly skilled workforce in Tennessee.  This scholarship program helps to accomplish both these objectives,” said Rick Youngblood, Nissan director/plant manager of powertrain manufacturing. “We are proud to present these first awards to Chase and Cody, both of whom are outstanding young men in our community.  We wish them much success as they begin to work toward careers in industrial maintenance.”

Chase Gardner, a senior at Huntland High School, is a member of the Interact Club, the Future Farmers of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  He was named “most studious” in his senior class and was ranked second academically, with a 3.8 grade-point average.  Chase has worked as a volunteer with Operation Noel holiday gift-giving program and with Challenger League Baseball.

Chase is the son of Jeff and Melany Gardner, and the family lives in Flintville.

Cody Hopkins is a senior at Franklin County High School.  He is captain of the varsity soccer team, and he played varsity football from 2008 to 2010.  He is a member of the Leo Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Drama Club and Skills USA.  Cody earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in 2011.  He serves as a volunteer with Upwards Basketball and Scouting for Food, and he is a member of the Youth Leadership Team at his church.  Cody was named “Athlete of the Year” for two years by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which also awarded him the Dean Zimmerman Memorial Award.  He was named a 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community honoree for his volunteerism efforts.

Cody lives in Winchester with his parents, Gary and Dawn Hopkins.

A Nissan Scholarship Selection Committee reviewed all the scholarship applications to determine the award winners.  The committee was comprised of representatives from Nissan, the Tennessee Technology Center, Franklin County High, Huntland High and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

Nissan began powertrain assembly in Decherd in 1997. Today employees manufacture 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines for the complete lineup of U.S.-produced Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The plant also houses crankshaft forging and cylinder block casting operations. In 2011, Decherd produced more than 580,000 engines in facilities that cover more than 1.2 million square feet.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.

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Contact:
Vicki Smith
Nissan Americas
Telephone: (615) 725-0749
www.nissannews.com