Nordson's Commitment to Education: Building a Skilled Workforce Through Scholarships

Nordson Corporation demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the communities where it operates by investing in education and workforce development. Through its global philanthropic programs and the Nordson Corporation Foundation, Nordson prioritizes grants in STEM education, human welfare, and arts and culture. A significant portion of these grants is dedicated to scholarships, particularly through the Nordson BUILDS Scholarship program.

Nordson’s Philanthropic Vision

Nordson Corporation and the Nordson Corporation Foundation contributed over $10 million to charitable organizations. Nordson prioritizes distributing grants to the areas of STEM education, human welfare, and arts and culture, with grants for education totaling more than $4.6 million, or 71% of its giving initiatives. These initiatives aim to enhance the neighborhoods in areas where the company conducts major operations. Nordson’s global philanthropic programs are dedicated to enhancing the neighborhoods in areas where it conducts major operations through various corporate and employee-led efforts, and by partnering with high-impact nonprofits aligned to its mission.

Sundaram Nagarajan, president and chief executive officer of Nordson, emphasized the company's commitment to giving back to the communities where they work and live to empower new possibilities. Maria Spangler, director of the Nordson Foundation and community relations, highlighted the pride employees take in contributing to their communities through Nordson Impact programs.

The Nordson BUILDS Scholarship Program

The Nordson BUILDS Scholarship program is a key initiative focused on building a skilled and educated workforce in manufacturing. During its 2024 fiscal year, Nordson gave a total of $907,000 in scholarships to 209 students. Its signature Nordson BUILDS Scholarship program, focused on building a skilled and educated workforce in manufacturing, accounted for half of the total scholarship award amount, giving $458,125 to 88 recipients. The mission of Nordson BUILDS is to attract and develop a diverse, highly skilled talent pool for careers in the manufacturing industry. It is designed to help bright and motivated students access and complete post-secondary education by lessening the financial barriers of enrolling in college for many and decreasing the loan burden for individuals that apply for financial aid.

Scholarship Details

Scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to students planning to enroll or already enrolled in an accredited public or private not-for-profit postsecondary institution including a 4-year college/university, 2-year community college or trade school. The Nordson BUILDS scholarship application is available online between January 15 and May 15 each year. The deadline to apply is May 15.

Scholarship Type: Merit-based
Coverage: Tuition fee reduction and other educational expenses.
Eligibility: Undergraduate students planning to enroll or already enrolled in an accredited public or private not-for-profit postsecondary institution.
Application Period: January 15 to May 15 each year.

Students with an F-1 or M-1 visa may apply for a BUILDS Scholarship. International students do not have to provide the FAFSA Submission Summary to demonstrate financial need, though they should upload a financial award letter from their campus or tuition statement that shows their expected cost of attendance.

Selection will be based on an overall assessment of academic performance, leadership skills, character, community service, school involvement, and the applicant's career/college major fit.

Scholarship Categories

Through our Nordson BUILDS initiative, we provide three categories of scholarships: Career & Technical, University Scholars, and Creating Equity in Industry. Nordson Corporation provides three categories of scholarships: Career & Technical, University Scholars, and Creating Equity in Industry.

Career & Technical (CTS): Applicants must be enrolled in a credit-based certificate or associate degrees at an accredited community college or technical school. Preferred programs of study include Engineering (Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, or Software), Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Machining, and Manufacturing Operations.
University Scholars (USS): Applicants must be pursuing careers in manufacturing, engineering, STEM, and business leading to a career in industry and Corporate America. Preferred programs of study include Engineering, Engineering-related disciplines, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Industrial Management, Information Technology, and STEM majors leading to a career in industry.
Creating Equity in Industry (CEIS): Students pursuing studies in manufacturing, STEM, or business fields that lead to careers in industry and Corporate sectors, who have high financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Preferred programs of study include Engineering, Engineering-related disciplines, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Industrial Management, Information Technology, and STEM majors leading to a career in industry.

Partnering with Educational Institutions

Nordson BUILDS scholarship winners may also apply for summer internship positions in select locations. Nordson has a limited number of summer internships each year for which BUILDS Scholars may apply. Nordson has partnered with OFIC’s (Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges) Scholarship Management Resources (SMR), an independent scholarship services provider to manage the scholarship program, including selecting the recipients. This ensures a fair and objective-based selection process. The Nordson BUILDS Scholarship Program (Nordson BUILDS) is administered through Scholarship Management Resources (SMR), a division of OFIC. Scholarships managed through SMR are open to students from any state attending an accredited, not-for-profit college or university.

Students who received Nordson Builds Scholarships attend Boston University, California Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, Cornell University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Rutgers Business School, Spelman College, The Ohio State University and more.

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Financial Need

Students must demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or equivalent to be eligible to receive a Nordson BUILDS Scholarship.

Focus on Manufacturing and STEM

These manufacturing industry scholarships are targeted at individuals whose permanent residence or college is near a Nordson facility, and are pursuing majors in manufacturing, engineering-related STEM disciplines, or business leading to a career in industry and corporate America. These scholarships are targeted at individuals whose permanent residence, trade school or college is near a Nordson facility and who are pursuing majors in manufacturing, engineering-related STEM disciplines, or business courses that will lead to a career in industry and corporate America.

Manufacturers need engineers, scientists, production technicians, lawyers, financial analysts, IT specialists, accountants, salespeople, marketing and human resource professionals: all types of bright and talented people to succeed.

Nordson Locations and Relevant Majors

Below, is a list of cities where Nordson offices and/or production facilities are located and relevant majors hired at those locations.

Arab, Alabama: Engineering, Manufacturing majors
Carlsbad, California: Engineering, Manufacturing, Business (Accounting, Finance Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain) majors
Huntington Beach, California: Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Industrial) majors
Ventura, California: Engineering, Manufacturing majors
Loveland, Colorado: Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Industrial), Manufacturing, Business (Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain) majors
Norwich, Connecticut: Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Industrial), Manufacturing, Business majors
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Nordson's Impact on Higher Education: A Case Study of Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the universities where students have received Nordson BUILDS Scholarships. Georgia Institute of Technology awards scholarships, bursaries, tuition fee reductions and discounts that help you cover existing tuition and living costs. The institution offers a range of bachelor programs relevant to Nordson's focus on manufacturing, engineering, and STEM fields.

Read also: Foundation Scholarship Details

Bachelor Programs at Georgia Tech

Georgia Institute of Technology offers a variety of bachelor programs that align with the goals of the Nordson BUILDS Scholarship program. These programs include:

Mechanical Engineering B.Sc.: A 48-month, full-time, on-campus program.
Public Policy Bachelor: A 60-month, full-time, on-campus program.
Psychology B.Sc.: A 48-month, full-time, on-campus program.
Environmental Engineering B.Sc.: A 48-month, full-time, on-campus program.
Mathematics B.Sc.: A 48-month, full-time, on-campus program.
Biochemistry B.Sc.: A 48-month, full-time, on-campus program.
International Affairs Bachelor: A 60-month, full-time, on-campus program.
Nuclear and Radiological Engineering B.Sc.: A 48-month, full-time, on-campus program.

For each of these programs, the tuition is $34572 USD per year for on-campus students, $33596 USD per year, and $10512 USD per year.

The Nordson Corporation Foundation

The Nordson Corporation Foundation is the successor to the Nordson Foundation, which was created in 1952 by Walter G. Nord, founder of Nordson Corporation. In 1988, the original foundation was reorganized to create the Nord Family Foundation and the Nordson Corporation Foundation. Since 1989, the Nordson Corporation Foundation has awarded tens of millions of dollars in grants focusing on education but also including arts and culture, civic affairs, and human welfare. Grants from the Nordson Corporation Foundation accounted for approximately $6.5 million of the total amount awarded. Nordson matched roughly $200,000 to the top nonprofits that employees donated to, including St. regional campaigns support local nonprofits through employee-led fundraising events.

Nordson as an Employer

There’s no better place to begin your career than at Nordson - a growing organization with an entrepreneurial spirit. At Nordson, you’ll join collaborative teams and form connections with smart, motivated colleagues, work alongside experienced managers and leaders, and grow through stretch assignments. Plus, you’ll be joining an organization that’s committed to supporting the communities where we live and work. We go above and beyond to support our communities by donating 5% of our pre-tax profits to eligible nonprofit partners in our communities, far more than average, and we encourage employees to make an impact and get involved through numerous volunteer opportunities.

Nordson delivers innovative precision technology solutions to our customers, helping them succeed and adding value to countless products people use every day. Collaboration drives our success as a market leader, an employer of choice and an outstanding corporate citizen. Our employees thrive in a team environment where we enable each other to continuously improve and grow. In each of our interactions, we strive to bring integrity, respect for others, passion, energy and excellence.

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