Spirit AeroSystems announces first scholarship recipients

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May 18, 2016, 11:29 ET

WICHITA, Kan., May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit AeroSystems joined the Kansas Board of Regents today to announce the inaugural class of Spirit Scholars, recipients of more than $570,000 of scholarship support. Spirit scholarships were awarded to students enrolling in engineering and business programs at Wichita State University, the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.

The recipients include:

Wichita State University
Engineering:
Colton Brennan, Seaman High School, Topeka, KS
Isaac Carrillo, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Wichita, KS
Haley Kauffman, Haven High School, Haven, KS
Jackson Lechner, Creighton Prep, Omaha, NE
Nathan Lipinski, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Wichita, KS
Lilia Marquez, Wichita North High School, Wichita, KS
Jacob Messenger, Kingman High School, Kingman, KS
Payton Morgan, Wichita East High School, Wichita, KS
Carson Reimer, Newton High School, Newton, KS
Whitney Warner, Homeschool, Wichita, KS
Business:
Matthew Sen, Campus High School, Wichita, KS
Brett Howie, Sunrise Christian Academy, Kechi, KS

University of Kansas
Engineering:
Ian McDonald, Washburn Rural High School, Topeka, KS
Sydney Warren, Clearwater High School, Clearwater, KS
Business:
Brian Freeman, Raymore-Peculiar High School, Peculiar, MO

Kansas State University
Engineering:
Anna Christianson, Olathe Northwest High School, Lenexa, KS
Josiah Satzler, Riley County High School, Manhattan, KS
Business:
Avery Bolar, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, KS

Each scholarship will provide $8,000 annually to cover tuition, fees, books and supplies, and is renewable for up to four years.

"At Spirit AeroSystems, our work requires a ready, reliable and trained workforce with high-tech skills," said Spirit AeroSystems President & CEO, Larry Lawson. "We are pleased to support these scholarship recipients and partner with Kansas engineering and business schools to help build a pipeline of future aerospace employees."

Spirit will work with the Spirit Scholars throughout their university experience, including a guaranteed Spirit internship interview after the completion of their sophomore year. Spirit will host students and their families at a welcome event later this year.

"I'm proud to say, the University Engineering Initiative Act remains on track to increase the number of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded collectively by Wichita State, KU, and K-State to 1,365 graduates annually by 2021," stated Regent Shane Bangerter, Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, who has been overseeing this initiative in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce. "But our long-term success will undoubtedly rely on the involvement of industry partners such as Spirit AeroSystems, if we are going to identify resources which can support this ambitious goal. Today we want to again thank them for this critical investment."

In all, Spirit is funding 18 scholarships across three universities.

On the web: http://www.spiritaero.com/

On Twitter: @SpiritAero

About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe. More information is available at www.SpiritAero.com.