SPRINGFIELD – The Clark State Foundation will begin offering a new scholarship opportunity to students majoring in manufacturing technologies thanks to Greg and Alicia Hupp of Springfield. The Greg and Alicia Sweet Hupp Scholarship will benefit two Clark State students annually.
Alicia Sweet Hupp, president and CEO of the Sweet Manufacturing Company, said the couple set up the scholarships to assist manufacturing technology students in pursuing a degree at Clark State.
“We wanted to do this to help students who have an interest in manufacturing technologies and also to be a solution to the current workforce issues being addressed in this community and communities nationwide,” said Sweet Hupp. “This is one thing we can do to provide students some of the skill sets that are needed in the manufacturing sector.”
The scholarships will cover tuition, fees, books and other course-related materials. Criteria include being a resident of Clark County and a major in a manufacturing-related field. Priority will be based on financial need, and students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher. With the scholarship comes a possible internship opportunity with Sweet Manufacturing.
“The Springfield community is fortunate to have generous people like Greg and Alicia Hupp,” said Toni Overholser, director of the Clark State Foundation. “Their support has created opportunity for people in this region to improve their lives. The Greg and Alicia Sweet Hupp scholarship will not only provide financial support for students, but also valuable work experience through internship at Sweet Manufacturing. Their generous support will enrich the lives of our students for years to come.”
In honor of this family and their longstanding commitment to the community, Clark State will recognize the advanced manufacturing laboratory as the Sweet Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Sweet Manufacturing was founded in 1955 by W. Dean Sweet who organized a team of associates to create Sweet Manufacturing Company. The company was dedicated to innovation and change in the well-established industry of bulk material handling. Sweet Manufacturing offers high-quality, reliable equipment, including bucket elevators, drag and belt conveyors and support structures; their equipment can be found in more than 55 countries covering six continents all around the world.
“Alicia Sweet Hupp has a deep commitment to Clark State: she is a Trustee Emerita and served Clark State’s students for many years in this capacity,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State. “She is also a company CEO who works diligently to ensure a strong workforce for manufacturing in our region, and her input has been invaluable to the development of our suite of manufacturing programs. It’s impossible to think about Clark State and manufacturing training without thinking about Alicia’s unwavering dedication to our students.”
A dedication for the Sweet Advanced Manufacturing Center located in Shull Hall at Clark State’s Springfield campus on Leffel Lane will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 6. A luncheon will follow.
