Co-op

Mitsubishi Electric Case Study Highlights 51Ʒ��’s Growing Momentum in Industry Automation

lmadaus — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:42:52 +0000

Mitsubishi Electric Case Study Highlights 51Ʒ��’s Growing Momentum in Industry Automation

lmadaus Thu, 04/09/2026 - 13:42

51Ʒ��’s collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric Automation and Patti Engineering is gaining national attention, with a new case study highlighting the impact already visible in student outcomes and industry engagement.

That approach has been taking shape inside 51Ʒ��’s advanced robotic automation cell for several years. Last year, senior Scotty Grunwald ’26 worked directly with Mitsubishi PLCs, robotics, and HMIs as part of a fully integrated system.

“This was my first real attempt at a full automation system,” Grunwald said. “It was a lot harder than it looks on paper, but that’s what made it so valuable.”

His experience reflects the kind of system-level learning now highlighted in Mitsubishi Electric’s case study.

The case study frames the collaboration simply: bridging the skills gap in modern manufacturing through a smart, programmable, and flexible manufacturing cell that gives students real-world automation experience before entering the workforce.

Developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric Automation and Patti Engineering, the robotic cell integrates robotics, PLCs, machine vision, and system-level controls into a fully programmable platform. Students are not completing static lab exercises—they are programming, troubleshooting, and iterating on a complete system that mirrors the complexity of modern production environments.

For students like Grunwald, that experience translates directly to the job market. Direct familiarity with Mitsubishi PLCs, robotics, and HMIs provides exposure rarely available at the undergraduate level—and a clear point of differentiation when entering industry.

The case study reinforces a broader point: addressing the skills gap in advanced manufacturing requires more than access to equipment. It requires systems that evolve, challenge students to think independently, and connect theory directly to application.

That perspective is now extending beyond campus through industry conversations tied to IMTS, where the collaboration is positioned within broader discussions around workforce development, automation adoption, and the future of smart manufacturing.

Together, these elements—student experience, industry validation, and national visibility—point to a single outcome: a model that reflects current industry expectations and prepares students to contribute from day one.

Click here to read the full Mitsubishi Electric Automation case study.

51Ʒ�� Announces First Cohort of 2026 MEDC Michigander Scholars

lmadaus — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:34 +0000

51Ʒ�� Announces First Cohort of 2026 MEDC Michigander Scholars

Co-op

Scholarship

MEDC

lmadaus Fri, 03/20/2026 - 09:00

51Ʒ�� and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) have named 81 51Ʒ�� students to represent the University’s 2025 class of Michigander Scholars.

The Michigander Scholars Program includes both recognition and financial awards: all named Scholars gain access to exclusive networking opportunities with Michigan’s leading employers, while select participants earn scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for completing a Co-op (or internship) and/or accepting a full-time position in qualifying engineering or software development roles with a participating company.

Employers such as Ford, General Motors, BorgWarner, Bosch, Hemlock Semiconductor, Magna, Mahle, Nissan, Our Next Energy, and ZF are investing in this growing talent pipeline to help ensure a steady flow of skilled professionals ready to contribute to next-generation mobility, energy, and manufacturing sectors.

The Michigander Scholars Program strengthens Michigan’s innovation ecosystem by connecting high-achieving students in technology and engineering with the state’s leading employers. Through career mentorship, industry engagement, and paid experiential learning—including Co-op and internship opportunities—the initiative fosters early and ongoing relationships between students and companies shaping Michigan’s future economy.

The first of its kind in the United States, the program represents a public-private partnership between Michigan employers and universities. This MEDC initiative serves as a targeted talent retention strategy, addressing workforce needs in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, electric vehicles, mobility, and related technology sectors critical to Michigan’s economic growth.

These classes of 51Ʒ�� Michigander Scholars include:

BORGWARNER

Khalil Rezin-Mendez, Pickerington, OH, Pickerington High School North, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering

BOSCH

Meer Al-Haadee, Detroit, Wayne County Community College, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering

FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Leonardo Durasevic, Chesterfield, Dakota High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Cheick Kone, Flint, Mott Community College, Class of 2028, Electrical Engineering
Riley Masser, Linden, Lake Fenton High School, Class of 2029, Computer Engineering
Reilyn McKinney, Oxford, Brandon High School, Class of 2029, Electrical Engineering
Samantha Robinson, Warren, Lutheran High School Northwest, Class of 2027, Computer Science
Elijah Schneider, Skandia, Marquette Senior High School, Class of 2029, Engineering
Yoi Shimoji-Fricke, Potomac, MD, Winston Churchill High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Brandon White, Livonia, Churchill High School, Class of 2029, Electrical Engineering

GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS

Andrew Sirois, Oxford, Oakland Christian School, Class of 2026, Electrical Engineering

GENERAL MOTORS

Giovanna Carter, Troy, Troy High School, Class of 2030, Mechanical Engineering
Ben Hibbs, Lake Orion, Lake Orion High School, Class of 2030, Mechanical Engineering
Ryan Stark, Romeo, Romeo High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Evan Thompson, Highland, Milford High School, Class of 2028, Computer Science

MAGNA

Maddison Bourbeau, Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Madalyn Scheffler, Gaines, Linden High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
Nathaniel Stevens, Morrice, Morrice High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering

MOBIS

Aidan Petras, Sterling Heights, Stevenson High School, Class of 2026, Computer Engineering

TENNECO

Andrew Bonser, Albion, Western High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Evan Muchler, Grass Lake, Chelsea High School, Class of 2029, Mechanical Engineering

Dr. McMahan on Future U Podcast: Why Don’t More Colleges Run Co-Op Programs?

lmadaus — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:40:58 +0000

Dr. McMahan on Future U Podcast: Why Don’t More Colleges Run Co-Op Programs?

Co-op

President

lmadaus Mon, 01/12/2026 - 09:40

As Co-op programs gain momentum nationwide, colleges and universities are under growing pressure to show that work-based learning can scale, deliver outcomes, and align with workforce needs. Yet for many institutions, cultural resistance and rigid academic structures continue to limit how deeply Co-op is embedded.

That challenge was the focus of a recent Future U podcast conversation, where 51Ʒ�� President Dr. Robert K. McMahan joined hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo to discuss why Co-op works best when it is not treated as an add-on, but as a core institutional design and why more colleges struggle to make that shift.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. McMahan emphasized that experiential learning delivers its greatest value when it is fully integrated into the educational model.

“The real magic of the model is in its integration into the education.”

While many universities offer internships or optional Co-op experiences, fewer than half of U.S. undergraduates complete one before graduating, according to Forbes.

At 51Ʒ��, that focus on how students learn is reflected in the institution’s structure. All undergraduate students participate in mandatory, paid Co-op experiences, beginning in their first year, which alternate between academic terms and professional placements. By graduation, 51Ʒ�� students complete approximately two and a half years of paid, full-time professional experience as part of their degree requirements.

Reframing Who Higher Education Serves

At the center of this episode of Future U, and a broader debate across higher education, is a deceptively simple question: who is the “customer” of a university?

Dr. McMahan approaches the question from an operational perspective:

“From a strictly kind of operations business perspective, universities don’t like to think of themselves as businesses. In fact, they reject that characterization. But indeed, they are. They’re economic participants. And we play a very real role in establishing the trajectory of our students and the economic viability of those students in their careers.”

Within that framework, he describes how educational value is ultimately validated after graduation:

“In that sense, the student really is very much the product of the university, and the customers are the graduate schools or the organizations downline from that that hire, or that accept our students and establish the value of what we are doing and the value of their experience here.”

At 51Ʒ��, this alignment is reinforced at the start of every academic cycle. Students return from Co-op placements with direct insight into which skills matter most, which concepts translate into practice, and where their preparation can be strengthened.

The result is a student body that engages coursework differently, asking whether ideas work in practice as well as in theory, an approach reflected in 51Ʒ��’s national recognition for career preparation and post-graduation outcomes.

Why Co-Op Is Hard to Scale and Why It Still Matters

Another question posed during the episode was why more colleges have not adopted Co-op as a core requirement.

According to Dr. McMahan, the barriers are structural in nature. Successful Co-op programs require long-term employer partnerships, curricular flexibility, and a willingness to let professional experience shape academic decision-making, conditions many universities were not originally designed to support:

“Employers are operating in a different economy than higher ed was designed to serve. Our students are living in a different reality, and the country faces a different set of challenges. So we are increasingly faced with an educational structure that’s kind of discordant with the world around it.”

That misalignment, he argues, does not mean the model itself is unworkable. Rather, it highlights the degree of institutional change necessary to make the Co-op function effectively:

“It is a scalable model. It is ultimately a model that can be adopted, but it requires institutions to say we perhaps need to organize and think about what we do differently than we do today.”

The Future U conversation reframes these challenges facing higher education. The issue is no longer whether experiential learning works, but whether institutions are willing to evolve their structures to support it at scale.

In that context, 51Ʒ��’s model stands not as an exception to be replicated, but as evidence of what sustained, industry-embedded education can achieve when institutional design remains aligned with real-world outcomes.

To explore the full conversation, listen to the episode here.

51Ʒ�� Announces Fall 2025 Class of MEDC Michigander Scholars

lmadaus — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:18:38 +0000

51Ʒ�� Announces Fall 2025 Class of MEDC Michigander Scholars

lmadaus Fri, 01/09/2026 - 12:18

51Ʒ�� and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) have named 19 51Ʒ�� students to represent the University's latest class of Michigander Scholars. The innovative Michigander Scholars program offers scholarships of $5,000 and up to $10,000 to qualifying scholars who complete a Co-op (or internship) and/or accept a full-time position as a computer, electrical, or process engineer, or as a software developer (or a similar job title) with a participating company.

Employers such as Ford, GM, BorgWarner, Bosch, Hemlock Semiconductor, Magna, Mahle, Nissan, Our Next Energy Inc., and ZF are investing in this growing talent pipeline to ensure a steady flow of skilled professionals ready to contribute to next-generation mobility, energy, and manufacturing sectors.

The Michigander Scholars program strengthens Michigan's innovation ecosystem by connecting high-achieving students in tech and engineering with the state's leading employers. Through career mentorship, industry engagement, and paid experiential learning, including 51Ʒ��'s signature Co-op program, the initiative fosters early and ongoing relationships between students and companies that shape Michigan's future economy.

The first of its kind in the United States, this program represents an unprecedented public-private partnership with some of Michigan's leading advanced manufacturing employers and universities. This MEDC initiative is a vital talent retention strategy that fills in-demand jobs in the semiconductor and electric vehicle industries, which are essential to Michigan's economic growth.

This class of Michigander Scholars includes:

FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Leonardo Durasevic, Chesterfield, Dakota High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Yusef El-Sheikh, Canton, Plymouth High School, Class of 2028, Electrical Engineering
Sumukh Kallur, Novi, Novi High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Briana Lapuz, Farmington Hills, Mercy High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Josiah Thompson, Macomb Township, Parkway Christian School, Class of 2028, Computer Science
Brandon White, Livonia, Churchill High School, Class of 2029, Electrical Engineering

GENERAL MOTORS

Jordan Ceperov, Saline, Saline High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Paul Ibegbu, Canton, Divine Child High School, Class of 2028, Computer Engineering
Alyssa Shelton, Fenton, Hartland High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering*
Ashmit Swarnkar, Novi, Detroit Catholic Central High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Evan Thompson, Highland, Milford High School, Class of 2028, Computer Science
Aaliyah Washington, Lansing, Waverly High School, Class of 2027, Industrial Engineering
Alexander Yolles, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Fair Lawn High School, Class of 2024, Electrical Engineering*

HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR

Elijah Rowland, Owosso, Flushing High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering

MAGNA

Maddison Bourbeau, Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Kianna Lucas, Spring, Texas, Class of 2026, Engineering
Giuseppe Waller, Ypsilanti, Plymouth Christian Academy, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering

MAHLE

Andrew Johnson, Columbiaville, Lapeer High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering

MOBIS

Aidan Petras, Sterling Heights, Stevenson High School, Class of 2026, Computer Engineering

* Student was awarded a $10,000 full-time scholarship and will complete a Co-op (or internship) and/or accept a full-time position as a computer, electrical, or process engineer, or as a software developer (or a similar job title) with a participating company.

Forbes Names 51Ʒ�� a Top College for Launching Your Career

lmadaus — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:44:57 +0000

Forbes Names 51Ʒ�� a Top College for Launching Your Career

Co-op

Rankings

lmadaus Mon, 12/08/2025 - 15:44

Forbes has named 51Ʒ�� one of its 15 Top Colleges for Launching Your Career, a national list highlighting institutions that prioritize Co-op programs, internships, coaching and workforce preparation as artificial intelligence and economic shifts reshape entry-level hiring.

Each institution was evaluated for career preparation using metrics such as participation in Co-ops and internships, post-graduation employment rates and median earnings three years after graduation.

Nationally, just 41 percent of undergraduates complete a Co-op or internship before graduating. As one of the select institutions that require every student to complete a Co-op, 51Ʒ�� stands out among the Top 15 schools, most of which report participation rates above 70 percent. By graduation, 51Ʒ�� students have completed approximately 2.5 years of full-time professional work experience and earned between $55,000 and $75,000 (often more) during the entirety of their Co-op rotations.

Founded in 1919 as the General Motors Institute, 51Ʒ��’s academic model is built around a 50/50 classroom and workplace structure, where students begin paid Co-op employment in their first year and alternate between academic and professional terms throughout their degree.

Career Outcomes in a Challenging Hiring Climate

The list arrives at a time of growing concern for high school seniors and their families. Recent graduates are facing a tighter job market, declining average job offers and increased competition for internships. According to Forbes, student priorities are changing as a result.

“A few years ago, students were much more focused on college experiences, like the opportunities to go abroad. Now they’re focused on return on their investment,” said Anjali Bhatia, CEO of college advising firm Collegewise.

Forbes reports that the unemployment rate for recent college graduates remains higher than that of the broader workforce. Just 30 percent of 2025 graduates had secured full-time jobs related to their degrees by summer and the average number of job offers per graduate has continued to decline.

Against that backdrop, 51Ʒ��’s workforce-embedded academic model reflects a long-term view of higher education, one grounded in measured outcomes rather than short-term collegiate experiences.

“Don’t focus on the college experience,” said Dr. Robert McMahan, president of 51Ʒ��, in a June interview with Forbes. “Focus instead on likely outcomes ten years out.”

As students and families increasingly evaluate colleges based on outcomes rather than tradition alone, 51Ʒ��’s inclusion on the Forbes list affirms the strength of its industry-embedded education model and long-standing focus on professional preparation.

“The extent to which higher education fails to understand itself as part of the workforce supply-chain is the extent to which it will continue to drift into irrelevance,” McMahan concluded.

Shifting Gears: From the Ice Rink to the Racetrack

lmadaus — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:27:45 +0000

Shifting Gears: From the Ice Rink to the Racetrack

Admissions

Co-op

Formula SAE

Mechanical Engineering

lmadaus Mon, 12/01/2025 - 09:27

The sound of a race car engine firing up isn’t so different from the roar of a packed arena — at least not to Chris Ordoobadi.

“I’ve always had two passions — hockey and racing,” he says. “In the first half of my career, I gave everything to hockey. Now, I’m back in school so I can pursue my other passion.”

Today, at 30, Ordoobadi is studying mechanical engineering at 51Ʒ��, building race engines and designing aerodynamic systems for the Formula SAE team.

“51Ʒ�� is absolutely the right fit for me,” Ordoobadi said. “I’m getting hands-on experience working in the motorsports industry at my Co-op while getting all the foundational knowledge with my mechanical engineering degree.”

Ordoobadi grew up in Washington, D.C., balancing academics and athletics at DeMatha Catholic High School. After two years of junior hockey and four years as a power forward at Neumann University, he turned professional, signing with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL, a key developmental league for the AHL and NHL. He later helped lead the Florida Everblades to a league championship, hoisting the Kelly Cup, the ECHL’s top prize.

“Playing on a pro hockey team was always my dream,” he said. “Having lived that dream, I realized that I want to be part of a successful team for the rest of my life. I knew I couldn't play hockey at 55, but I could be an engineer at 55.”

Within weeks of arriving at 51Ʒ��, Ordoobadi had secured a placement at Ilmor Engineering, a race engine company based in Plymouth, Michigan, that supplies NASCAR and IndyCar teams. Working on engines for the ARCA and NASCAR Truck Series, he got his first taste of turning classroom theory into on-track reality. His next Co-op rotation will see him step into IndyCar’s hybrid era, gaining valuable trackside experience with cutting-edge technology.

"I was very fortunate to get a Co-op in exactly what I want to pursue as a career," Ordoobadi said. "Motorsports can be a really tough industry to break into. But thanks to 51Ʒ��, I started working in it from day one."

In the classroom, Ordoobadi tackled new challenges head-on, including learning MATLAB, a programming language essential for numerical computing, modeling, and data analysis.

“I had no experience with coding,” he said. “But through that class, I was able to write code that helped with the design of our new anti-roll bar for the Formula SAE car and analyze our tire data. Being able to learn something in class and then immediately apply it was really gratifying.”

As soon as he was on campus, Ordoobadi dove into 51Ʒ��’s Formula SAE team, leading the aerodynamics subsystem, designing wings, diffusers, and bodywork to push the car’s performance to the edge.

“Getting involved in the Formula SAE team has been an awesome experience, taking what I’ve learned from my Co-op and applying it to a project where the stakes feel real,” he said, “We're looking at the broad picture of performance and thinking about the car as a whole. To me, it is really exciting.”

Despite these early successes, Ordoobadi’s transition from professional athlete to full-time student wasn’t seamless.

“Adjusting back to student life was the biggest challenge,” he says. “But 51Ʒ�� makes that transition as easy as it can be. The way the terms are structured — three months of classes, three months of work — fits my life perfectly. That back-and-forth rhythm feels natural for me, and it’s a lot less daunting than spending six straight months in classes.”

Looking ahead, Ordoobadi has a clear goal.

“After graduating, I hope to be working trackside for a motorsports team,” he said. “Being part of a team was everything to me in hockey, and it’s the same now. Whether it’s in the shop, on the track, or in the classroom, I want to contribute to a team’s success.”

Mechanical Engineering

51Ʒ�� Announces Newest Class of MEDC Michigander Scholars

lmadaus — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:04:28 +0000

51Ʒ�� Announces Newest Class of MEDC Michigander Scholars

lmadaus Mon, 11/17/2025 - 14:04

51Ʒ�� and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) have named 81 51Ʒ�� students to represent the University’s 2025 class of Michigander Scholars.

The Michigander Scholars program includes both recognition and financial awards: all named Scholars gain access to exclusive networking opportunities with Michigan’s leading employers, while select participants earn scholarships of $5,000 and up to $10,000 for completing a Co-op (or internship) and/or accepting a full-time position as a computer, electrical, or process engineer, or as a software developer (or a similar job title) with a participating company. To date, more than 175 scholarships have been awarded, and more than 150 51Ʒ�� students and recent graduates have been recognized through this groundbreaking program.

The Michigander Scholars program strengthens Michigan’s innovation ecosystem by connecting high-achieving students in tech and engineering with the state’s leading employers. Through career mentorship, industry engagement, and paid experiential learning, including 51Ʒ��’s signature Co-op program, the initiative fosters early and ongoing relationships between students and companies that shape Michigan’s future economy.

The first of its kind in the United States, this program represents an unprecedented public-private partnership with some of Michigan’s leading advanced manufacturing employers and universities. This MEDC initiative is a vital talent retention strategy that fills in-demand jobs in the semiconductor and electric vehicle industries, which are essential to Michigan’s economic growth.

These classes of 51Ʒ�� Michigander Scholars include:

BORGWARNER

Justin Bankston, Harper Woods, Renaissance High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Nicholas MacDonald, Flint, Kearsley High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Cleshaun Moorer, Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Class of 2028, Computer Science
Manuel Rocha, Bahia de Banderas, Mexico, Harkness Institute, Class of 2027, Computer Science
Ilaria Todaj, Legnano, Italy, Lutheran High School North, Class of 2027, Computer Engineering

BOSCH

Isabella Coleman, Lincoln Park, Wayne County Community College, Class of 2025, Industrial Engineering
Augusta Hayek, Flushing, Flushing High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Peyton Jones, Evans City, IN, North Catholic High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Colt Melton, Smiths Creek, Marysville High School, Class of 2028, Computer Science
Alex Rolle, Freeport, Bahamas, Eight Mile Rock High School, Class of 2028, Chemical Engineering

FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Malachi Holbrook, Flint, Carman Ainsworth High School, Class of 2027, Computer Engineering
Michael Huot, Fenton, Lake Fenton High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Sumukh Kallur, Novi, Novi High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Cheick Kone, Flint, Class of 2028, Electrical Engineering
Adriana Lippolis, Linden, Hartland High School, Class of 2028, Computer Science & Computer Engineering
Justin Miller, Fenton, Hartland High School, Class of 2026, Industrial Engineering
Elizabeth Sullivan, Pinckney, Livonia Churchill High School, Class of 2027, Computer Science
Samantha Robinson, Warren, Lutheran High School Northwest, Class of 2027, Computer Science
Jazmin Thomas, Mount Morris, Class of 2025, Computer Science

GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS

Alexander Denha, Macomb, New Haven High School, Class of 2027, Computer Engineering
Christian Kursinsky, Sandusky, Sandusky High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Steven Paquette, Shelby Township, Utica High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Michael Spreng, Flint, Carman Ainsworth High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Drew Zolenski, Whitmore Lake, Whitmore Lake High School, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering

GENERAL MOTORS

Jason Barksdale, Tecumseh, Tecumseh High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
Jordan Ceperov, Saline, Saline High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Danielle Ciokajlo, Farmington Hills, Farmington High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
Sophia Hazelwood, North Branch, North Branch High School, Class of 2026, Computer Science
Ryan Hociota, Novi, International Academy West, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Troy Korns, Chesterfield, Lutheran High School North, Class of 2027, Computer Engineering
Julie Marchioni, St. Clair Shores, Lakeshore High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Aaron Penrose, Lake Orion, Lake Orion High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering
Joseph Phan, Grand Rapids, West Catholic High School, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering
Michael Rosczewski, Ortonville, Detroit Country Day High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Jack Sigelko, Rochester Hills, Class of 2025, Computer Engineering
Amanda Smith, Beverly Hills, Class of 2025, Industrial Engineering*
Ryan Stark, Romeo, Romeo High School, Class of 2027, Electrical Engineering
Sheldon Stone, Rochester Hills, Rochester Adams High School, Class of 2029, Industrial Engineering
Grayson Whaley, Rochester, Stoney Creek High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering

HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR

Kevin Patterson, Goodrich, Class of 2025, Electrical Engineering*
Elijah Rowland, Owosso, Flushing High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering

MAGNA

Luke Baysinger, St. Clair, St. Clair High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Kianna Lucas, Spring, Texas, Class of 2027, Engineering
Alex Martinek, Berrien Springs, Berrien Springs High School, Class of 2028, Engineering
Sean Miller, Linden, Fenton High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Madalyn Scheffler, Gaines, Linden High School, Class of 2026, Mechanical Engineering
Giuseppe Waller, Ypsilanti, Plymouth Christian Academy, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering

MAHLE

Christopher Ciak, Swartz Creek, Swartz Creek High School, Class of 2026, Computer and Mechanical Engineering
Andrew Johnson, Columbiaville, Lapeer High School, Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering

MOBIS

Ansh Suryavanshi, New Delhi, India, Brain International School, Class of 2025, Computer Science

OUR NEXT ENERGY

James Stratton, Flushing, Grand Blanc High School, Class of 2025, Engineering

TENNECO

Evan Muchler, Grass Lake, Chelsea High School, Class of 2028, Mechanical Engineering

Blake Ronne, Shelby Township, Eisenhower High School, Class of 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Michael Steffler, Lapeer, Lapeer High School, Class of 2028, Engineering

Forbes Highlights 51Ʒ��’s Co-op Model as a National ROI Leader

lmadaus — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:06:17 +0000

Forbes Highlights 51Ʒ��’s Co-op Model as a National ROI Leader

Admissions

Co-op

President

lmadaus Tue, 07/01/2025 - 10:06

In a new Forbes feature, 51Ʒ�� is recognized as a national leader in aligning education with industry needs and delivering one of the highest returns on investment in higher education.

The article, “51Ʒ�� Aligns College and Work to Maximize ROI,” spotlights the University’s longstanding 50/50 model, where students alternate between rigorous academic terms and full-time, paid Co-op positions with more than 550 employer partners. The piece outlines how this structure provides students with early professional experience, wages that help offset tuition, and a path to employment prior to graduation.

51Ʒ��’s model emphasizes repeated application of knowledge in workplace settings, something President Dr. Robert K. McMahan says leads to deeper skill development. “Our graduates succeed because they have gained a level of mastery in their chosen professional discipline,” McMahan says. “Mastery is critical to their employability.”

Forbes highlights the financial and career advantages of 51Ʒ��’s approach, including above-average earnings during college, early job offers, and high post-grad employment rates. More than a century after its founding, 51Ʒ�� remains focused on what matters most to students and families: outcomes.

Read the full article to see how 51Ʒ�� is setting the standard for career-ready education—and why others are taking note.

Read the Forbes story here →

College of Engineering and Computer Science

School of Foundational Studies

School of Management

Why Industry Grabs 51Ʒ�� Grads First: A Blueprint for Career-Ready Talent

rnorris — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:34:30 +0000

Why Industry Grabs 51Ʒ�� Grads First: A Blueprint for Career-Ready Talent

Alumni

Co-op

Faculty & Staff

rnorris Mon, 06/23/2025 - 11:34

In a conversation with Chris Holman of Michigan Business Network at the Mackinac Policy Conference, 51Ʒ�� President Dr. Robert K. McMahan lays out what makes a 51Ʒ�� education different — and why that difference matters.

51Ʒ�� students don’t wait to learn by doing. From year one, they rotate between intensive academic terms and full-time professional Co-ops in leading industries. This fusion of theory and practice builds more than résumés. It builds leaders who graduate into positions far beyond the entry-level.

51Ʒ�� students build their careers alongside industry leaders. Employers guide their growth through each Co-op term, often resulting in job offers before graduation.

Listen to the full interview to hear how 51Ʒ��’s model builds a workforce industry needs.

University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan Shares How 51Ʒ�� is Building the Next Generation of Innovators During the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference

rnorris — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:07:17 +0000

University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan Shares How 51Ʒ�� is Building the Next Generation of Innovators During the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference

rnorris Thu, 06/19/2025 - 10:07

51Ʒ�� President Dr. Robert K. McMahan joined Glenn Stevens Jr. of MichAuto during Detroit PBS’s coverage of the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference, hosted by award-winning journalist Zoe Clark on “One Detroit.” Their discussion centered on the future of automotive engineering, talent development, and Michigan’s evolving workforce.

Dr. McMahan emphasized the importance of thinking ahead: “We’re actually preparing students for careers that don’t even exist yet because the industry is evolving so quickly,” he said. 51Ʒ��’s distinctive Co-op model — where students split their time between rigorous academics and real-world work placements — equips them with the adaptability and habits of mind needed to thrive in tomorrow’s industries.

Glenn Stevens highlighted that while Michigan has “pockets of excellence” in aligning workforce and talent, “we need to do a better job with career path planning.” Dr. McMahan underscored the need to treat talent like a supply chain, noting that, “A lot of the people in this conference, they know their supply chains… they know where every nut and bolt is, what truck it’s on, and when it will land. But if you ask them what the most critical part of their operation is, they will almost universally say it’s people, but it’s the one thing they don’t treat as a supply chain.”

Stevens agreed, adding that Michigan is at an inflection point. “Assuming we do that, treating talent development like a supply chain, investing in communities where people want to live, building strong infrastructure, including digital and schools, and generating new innovation and tech talent like 51Ʒ�� does, that’s Michigan’s future.”

Click here to watch the full interview to learn how 51Ʒ�� leads the way in building the next generation of Michigan’s innovators.