Nokian Announces Scholarship Winners
Key Highlights
- Nokian Tyres Inc. announced the winners of its 2026 scholarship program.
- The tire manufacturer's program recognizes students demonstrating academic excellence and a passion for STEM fields.
- Nokian Tyres partners with local colleges to offer apprenticeships and internships and aims to strengthen the Southeast Tennessee workforce.
Nokian Tyres Inc. announced the winners of its 2026 scholarship program that aims to prepare college students for the workforce.
Rhea County High School graduates Jesus Hernandez-Santiago and Josiah Shibley earned the scholarship "by demonstrating academic aptitude, interest in STEM fields and a passion for surpassing expectations in their extracurricular pursuits."
The college scholarship program, now in its seventh year, is part of the company’s initiative to prepare young professionals to join the Southeast Tennessee workforce. These efforts also include an apprenticeship program, work-based learning initiative and summer internship partnership.
“We are passionate about fueling the employment pipeline in Rhea County and beyond,” says Blake Markham, Nokian Tyres North America human resources director, who serves as chairman of the Southeast Tennessee Workforce Development Board. “Our region benefits from strong partnerships between businesses, educational institutions and local governments that strengthen companies and change lives.”
Nokian Tyres also has an apprenticeship partnership with educational institutions in Southeast Tennessee. "Through a partnership with Cleveland State Community College, six apprentices are enrolled in a multi‑year program designed to prepare them for long‑term careers in tire manufacturing through a combination of 8,000 hours of on‑the‑job training and 42 classroom credit hours," say company officials.
The company also partners with Bryan College for an internship program that "provides experience, mentorship and special projects designed to equip future graduates with the skills they need to contribute to the company and to the workforce."