Clark State dedicates lab to local business

Clark State has renamed a manufacturing lab on campus in honor of a longtime Springfield manufacturer for providing scholarships to help students go to the school.

The community college’s advanced manufacturing laboratory was dedicated as the Sweet Advanced Manufacturing Center Thursday.

“This gift is targeted to a workforce that is necessary to develop in our region,” said Clark State President Jo Alice Blondin said. “We have manufacturers in need of closing that skills gap and getting good employees.”

MORE: Local manufacturer develops scholarship at Clark State

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.

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.

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.

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