Cooper Tire awards student scholarships

FINDLAY, Ohio (May 27, 2015) — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has awarded Cooper Centennial Scholarships to three students who are offspring of Cooper employees.

The new scholarship program was instituted last year to commemorate Cooper's 100th anniversary.  

The goal of the program, which will make awards annually, is to help the children of Cooper employees continue their post-secondary education — with an emphasis on those who intend to pursue careers related to manufacturing, according to the tire maker. Cooper said the program is being administered by the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, an independent philanthropic agency that manages more than 350 funds, including more than 100 scholarships.

“We are extremely proud of this group of students as the first ever to win the Cooper Centennial Scholarship,” said Roy Armes, Cooper chairman, CEO and president.  

“Each of these students is exemplary in their studies, earning grade point averages well over 4.0, and each submitted outstanding essays regarding the importance of manufacturing in the global economy.”

All three winners participated in extracurricular activities and helped in their communities. There were many qualified applicants on a national basis, Mr. Armes said, and after narrowing the field, an independent committee then selected the inaugural scholarship winners.

The three students, who were selected as winners from more than 30 total applicants nationwide, will each receive $1,000 awards to continue their studies. They are:

• Alexandria Magyar is the 18-year-old daughter of James Magyar, regional marketing manager for Cooper subsidiary Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, and his wife Teresa. Ms. Magyar is a graduate of Chippewa High School in Doylestown, Ohio, and was this year's valedictorian.  She plans to attend the University of Findlay to study biology.

• Garrett Schrum is the 17-year-old son of Frank Schrum, energy manager for Cooper Tire's manufacturing operations in North America, and his wife Marilyn. He is a graduate of Findlay High School and plans to study chemical engineering at the University of Cincinnati.

• Adam Seitz is the 18-year-old son of Cooper Senior Systems Developer Jill Seitz and her husband David.  He is a graduate of Findlay High School and plans to pursue a double major in electrical engineering and computer science at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.