A. O. Smith announces 2014 scholarship recipients

Milwaukee, Wis.— A. O. Smith Corporation today announced a total of 21 students from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and China who are recipients of 2014 company-sponsored merit scholarships.

The recipients are sons or daughters of A. O. Smith Corporation employees and were selected based on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, work experience, and honors.  

The 2014 recipients are:

• Justin Bates of Milton, Ga., the son of John and Lisa Bates.  Bates is a student at the University of Georgia in Athens majoring in finance and accouting;
• Casey Burks of Milton, Wash., the daughter of Aaron Burks and Devin and Rob Olson.  Burks is a first-year student at Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., where she plans to major in chemical engineering.
• Kassandra Glover of Camden, S.C, the daughter of John and Jennifer Glover.  Glover is a first-year student at Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C., where she will major in pharmacy;
• Raoul Helmes of Leiden, the Netherlands, the son of Ger Helmes.  Helmes is a student at Leiden University majoring in medicine
• Ning Hu of Nanjing, China, the daughter of Hu Yonchun and Li Xia.  Hu is a student at Wuhan University of Science and Technology majoring in civil engineering;
• Xiaoyu Liu of Nanjing, China, the daughter of Yongin Ling and Cheng Liu.  Liu is a student at Yangzhou University majoring in finance management
• Ye Liu of Nanjing, China, the daughter of Zhuhua Liu and Li Ye.  Liu is a student at Nanjing Finance College majoring in accountin
• Shawn May of Plymouth, Mich., the son of Linda and Rick May.  May is a student at Michigan State University in East Lansing majoring in supply chain;
• Elizabeth Metcalf of Kingsport, Tenn., the daughter of Tony and Donna Metcalf.  Metcalf is a first-year student at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, and plans to major in nursing
• Luz Areli Nicolas Garcia of Juarez, Mexico, the daughter of Ceforino Nicolas Arrurdo and Silverio Garcia Nova.  Nicolas is a first-year student at the Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez where she plans to major in administration
• Grace Nyikes of Royal Oak, Mich., the daughter of Scott and Dawn Nyikes.  Nyikes is a first-year student at Saint Louis University where she plans to major in business and pre-law;
• Nathan Poplin of Murfreesboro, Tenn., the son of Lee and Laurie Poplin.  Poplin is a first-year student at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and plans to major in biochemistry and molecular biology;
• Matthew Putman of Watertown, Tenn., the son of Ben and Dana Putnam.  Putman is a first-year student at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville and will major in chemical engineering;
• Xiaoqing Qiu of Nanjing, China, the daughter of Jiuqiang Qiu and Yanzhen Wang.  Qiu is a first-year student at Hohai University in Nanjing and plans to major in architecture;
• Andrew Shumaker of Bristol, Tenn., the son of Andy and Pennie Shumaker.  Shumaker is a first-year student at Clemson University and is majoring in mechanical engineering;
• McKenzie Smith of Sumter, S.C., the daughter of Herbert and Lynn Smith.  Smith is a first-year student at the College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C., and plans to major in biology;
• Carmin Yuritz Velo Medina of Juarez, Mexico, the daughter of Rufina Medina Armendariz.  Velo is a second-year student at the Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez, majoring in business management;
• Maureen Vento of Wauwatosa, Wis., the daughter of Sarah and Paul Vento.  Vento is a first-year student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design where she will major in fine arts;
• Colin Waters of Florence, Ky., the son of Jim and Doris Waters.  Waters is a first-year student at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and plans to major in theater/communications;
• Yue Wu of Nanjing, China, the daughter of Wanyong Wang and Sumei Wu.  Wu is a student at Anhui Agricultural University in Heifei majoring in English;
• Runsheng Zhang of Nanjing China, the son of Yan and Zongshan Zhang.  Zhang is a first-year student at the China University of Mining and Technology in Xuzhou and plans to major in engineering.

The A. O. Smith Merit Scholarship program is open to the children of employees in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, China and India. To be considered, the student must be a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or vocational school degree program. Scholarships help cover a portion of the tuition costs at an accredited two-year or four-year college or vocational technical school of the student's choice.

The company awards scholarships annually, which may be renewed for up to three additional years or until the recipient earns a bachelor's degree. The A. O. Smith Scholarship program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a program of ScholarshipAmerica ® of St. Peter, Minn.