Supporting youth – manufacturing dollars to scholarship
Examiner photo by Celeste Anguiano Navasota Grimes County Chamber of Commerce awarded four scholarships to Grimes County youth due in large part to a generous donation by Forged Components Incorporated. Pictured left to right: Chamber Executive Director Lucy Ybarra, Anderson-Shiro scholarship recipients Avery Hulsman and Hannah Abraham, FCI Vice President of Operations Ed Murphy, Iola HS recipient Scott McDougald, Navasota HS recipient Avery McKinney and Chamber President Meribeth Shimshack.
Each year Navasota Grimes County Chamber offers a scholarship to local graduates enrolled in higher education. This year the Chamber Board of Directors voted to award four scholarships instead of one.
Scholarships this year focus on vocational and technical education. Four awards may not seem like much. In an economy where more of our small businesses need help, and costs aren’t going down- providing more scholarships from a Chamber budget could have been out of reach.
Ed Murphy, the Vice President of Operations with Forged Components Incorporated, stepped in to assist with that financial gap. Murphy works at the Navasota location and became involved with the Chamber to help drive more resources and focus to our Industrial park in Grimes County and industry focused programs.
While discussing ideas for a different Chamber project, workforce and entry employment was brought up. Murphy became interested in how FCI could support Grimes County Youth and efforts in strengthening industrial workforce.
“Forged Components is proud to be a sponsor of the Jim Beard Memorial Scholarship. Our business has prospered here in Navasota for about 20 years and we are happy to give back to this great community that provides us with our exceptional workforce,” said Murphy.
From the support of our chamber membership, and fundraisers like our annual Chamber Awards Banquet, the Chamber focuses on the “biggest bang for our buck,” said Executive Director Lucy Ybarra. “Our goal is to utilize our money to positively impact our businesses with both short and long-term results. Supporting our young adults entering the workforce, by ensuring they have enough financial backing to complete vocational education is a great way to do this.”
Businesses like Sun and Stars Tent Adventures, owned by Tiffany Vivaldi, who contributed a glamping adventure and ErgoGensis/ BodyBuilt, headquartered in Grimes County who donated an ergonomic office chair to the live auction at this year’s Chamber Award Banquet helped get the scholarship award program off the ground and running. FCI and Murphy’s support, took it to soaring levels enabling the chamber to reach its goal of providing four $500 scholarships to vo-tech focused students of Grimes County.
Eleven students applied for the scholarship and underwent a screening process. Award winners are Scott McDougald of Iola ISD, volunteering with 4-H FFA, Iola Food pantry, and Iola Missionary Baptist Church-McDougald plans to attend TAMU, Rellis Campus and enroll in their CDL program. “As a strong supporter of Ag business, I want to bring my education back to Grimes County and go to work, either with an industry like FCI or within Ag business.” Avery McKinney, of Navasota High School will be attending TAMU with a major in Ag Business- her goal will be to work within the Ag Industry in marketing for livestock, farmers and related products.
Anderson-Shiro CISD had two award winners, Hannah Abraham and Avery Hulsman. Abraham spent time volunteering with St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and the Anderson Senior Center. She will be attending TAMU in the fall with a major in Petroleum Engineering with a focus on natural resources.
Hulsman will attend TAMU majoring in Animal Science. “I plan on specializing in reproduction. With my time spent working this year within the field, I see the importance of developing my skills in this area and what I can bring back to my community.”
“Our company founder, Karl J Lyons was a passionate advocate of education for technical and vocational skills to help young women and men pursue their careers in manufacturing. In that tradition, Forged Components strongly supports the Chamber for their work to facilitate these awards and offer our congratulations to the 2023 Jim Beard Memorial Scholarship recipients,” said Murphy.
Ybarra said the partnership with FCI will benefit youth of Grimes County for years to come. “Their value of workforce education, as well as incoming contributors like these four students proves FCI understands the mindset that if you want a strong workforce that lasts long term, we must invest in the future now. And that future is our youth here in Grimes County.”