Denso Foundation awards more than $1 million in STEM education grants

June 28, 2019
The grants, which went to 26 North American higher education institutions, will foster STEM learning programs to help develop future automotive, manufacturing workforce

Denso has awarded more than $1 million in STEM education grants to 26 colleges and universities across North America. The grants are made possible by Denso’s philanthropic division, Denso North America Foundation (DNAF), and are meant to help cultivate tomorrow’s workforce. These donations deliver funds to programs that will help expose students to the careers available in automotive and manufacturing and prepare them for evolving fields.

"To achieve our 2030 goal of creating and inspiring new value for the future of mobility, we need to be inspiring our next generation of employees," said Jack Helmboldt, president of DNAF. "By awarding grants to these educational institutions, we’re equipping students – and possible future DENSO employees – with opportunities, skills, and knowledge that will help create a generation of innovators poised to transform the mobility industry."

Grants will be used towards programs focused on design, materials management, mechanical and electrical engineering principles, thermodynamics, robotics and more. Recipients of this year’s grants include:

  • Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
  • Arkansas State University
  • Auburn University
  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
  • Cleveland State Community College
  • Conestoga College
  • FIME
  • Jackson State University
  • Kennesaw State University
  • Kettering University
  • Lawrence Technological University
  • Michigan State University
  • Michigan Technological University
  • North Carolina State University
  • Oakland University
  • Pellissippi State Community College
  • Southeast Missouri State University
  • TecMilenio University
  • Tennessee Technological University
  • University of Michigan-Dearborn
  • University of Alabama
  • University of Alabama-Huntsville
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
  • Wayne State University
  • Western Michigan University

DNAF has supported STEM education through grants at colleges and universities since 2001. Denso education grant proposals are invite-only and evaluated based on technical merit, student experience and alignment with industry needs.