BASF establishes endowed scholarship to support Tennessee Tech chemistry and engineering students

SPARTA, TN, September 1, 2021 – BASF has announced it will collaborate with Tennessee Technological University to increase the pipeline of diverse talent in the chemical manufacturing industry as part of a $31,000 endowed scholarship that will provide tuition assistance and internship opportunities to students. 

“BASF’s commitment to fostering workforce development opportunities for students in our community remains a priority,” said Andy Schmitt, Site Director for BASF in Sparta, Tennessee. “Our team is excited to collaborate with Tennessee Technological University as we further our mission of empowering our future workforce with the tools and experience they need to be successful in the industry.”

The scholarship will assist students pursuing a degree in chemistry or engineering. BASF provides meaningful projects and internship positions at its Sparta, Tennessee facility. Tennessee Tech students gain real-world experience as they network with peers and expand their skillsets during their paid internship.

“BASF is already a tremendous industry partner, providing internships that create interdisciplinary opportunities for our students to learn how to apply skills learned in the classroom in complex teams in the workplace,” said Joseph C. Slater, Dean of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University. “The new BASF Endowed Scholarship for Engineering and Chemistry furthers this partnership by increasing access to a top-notch technical education and makes a real difference in the lives of our engineering students.”

Students pursuing a degree in engineering or chemistry with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 who have interned at BASF’s Sparta, Tennessee, manufacturing facility are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. The scholarship is set to be awarded for the first time this year during the fall 2021 semester.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 17,000 employees in North America and had sales of $18.7 billion in 2020. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at http://www.basf.com.

About Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Tech produces practical, ready-to-work graduates from a broad range of academic disciplines prepared to compete in a technologically driven world. Tennessee’s technological university creates, advances, and applies knowledge to expand opportunity and economic competitiveness. As a STEM-infused, comprehensive institution, Tennessee Tech delivers enduring education, impactful research, and collaborative service.