Pearson awarded Steel Intern Scholarship

Landon Pearson, a junior mechanical engineering major at Trine University, has been named a recipient of the Steel Intern Scholarship awarded by the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST).

A resident of Churubusco, Pearson will receive a $6,000 one-year scholarship following completion of a paid summer internship at Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) in Columbia City. Pearson currently works as a mechanical engineer at SDI through Trine’s Cooperative Education Program and interned at the company over the summer of 2016.

“When I found out I won this scholarship I immediately felt as though my hard work had been noticed,” Pearson said. “Personally, I believe it’s not all about getting straight A’s, it’s these internships that really define a person and their ability to understand and demonstrate knowledge. I know that as a result of this scholarship, I have made Steel Dynamics proud that I am a member of their ‘family.’ ”

To qualify for AIST scholarships, students must be majoring in one of the following engineering/engineering technology majors: metallurgy, materials science, electrical, mechanical, chemical, industrial, environmental or computer science. Applicants complete an essay and provide recommendation letters expressing a strong interest in the iron and steel industry.

Pearson said he believes his work experience at SDI gave him an edge in the scholarship competition.

“I was set apart from the competition because of not only my high grade point average but my involvement in the steel industry this early in my career,” he said. “I excelled at everything that I was faced with during my summer internship and my hard work and dedication set me apart. The scholarship committee witnessed this in my strong letter of recommendation from my manager at Steel Dynamics.”

A member of the Churubusco Volunteer Fire Department, Pearson said he hopes to remain in the area — and at SDI — following graduation.

A nonprofit organization with 18,000 members from more than 70 countries, the Association for Iron & Steel Technology seeks to advance the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel.