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[May 2009]
Associated Glass & Pottery Manufacturers Create Scholarship for Alfred University Students
Daniel Vuono, a senior majoring in materials science and engineering in the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering at Alfred University, is this year’s recipient of a scholarship from the Associated Glass & Pottery Manufacturers (AGPM). The AGPM is an association, founded in 1923, to promote the glass and pottery industries in the USA through public exhibitions and education.
“Our Association has worked with Alfred University for at least five years, beginning with our internship project,” explained Robert Gonze, who chairs an association committee working to enhance recognition of the glass and pottery manufacturing segment and encourage recruitment at the collegiate level. This project pairs an art student with an engineering student each year for an internship at one of the member companies.
“In addition, our industry and several members of our Association have a long history with the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and appreciate the fine industry/academia relationship that exists,” said Mr Gonze.
The materials-based engineering programmes at Alfred – biomedical materials science engineering, ceramic engineering, glass science and materials science – are part of the state-supported College of Ceramics at AU and are included, along with electrical and mechanical engineering, in the Inamori School of Engineering. The College of Ceramics also includes the School of Art & Design, with its top-rated programmes in ceramic art and glass art.
“Our project committee decided last year to move from internships to scholarships in an effort to find a meaningful way to help the industry, and to encourage students to think about our industry,” said Mr Gonze. He believes the association’s three-year commitment to fund the scholarships could be a “win-win-win situation for the students, the school and our industry”.
Current members of the AGPM include: Blenko Glass Company, Burley Clay Products, CMS USA, Custom Deco, Fenton Glass Art Co, Glassautomatic, The Hall China Co, The Homer Laughlin China Co, Lenox, McCoy Ltd, Saint-Gobain Container Co, Simon Pearce Glass Co, Steuben Glass and Treasured Editions Co.
ENDS