More than 50 years ago, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute pioneered the concept of cooperative education, which provides undergraduates with experiential job placements. Visionary corporate partners, such as Boeing, have helped to ensure the success of the program, and the students who take part in it.
In addition to funding fellowships and establishing a scholarship program for underrepresented minority populations – which to date has provided much-needed funding for many students–Boeing has taken steps to provide Rensselaer students with the tools to build solid foundations for successful careers. The company’s appreciation of diversity has been illustrated by its support of student groups such as the Society of Women Engineers, and the Society for Asian Scientists and Engineers at Rensselaer.
Beyond regular participation in career fairs at Rensselaer, Boeing has provided support to the Professional Leadership Program, which is designed to assist juniors and seniors at Rensselaer in understanding the concepts and complexities associated with leadership. These students also benefited from a panel discussion, led by Boeing, on how to successfully apply for internships, after which many of our students were accepted into Boeing’s internship program. Some have continued on to prosperous careers at Boeing.
In 2014, when a group of executives from The Boeing Company visited the Troy, New York campus of Rensselaer, the Chairman and CEO at the time, W. James McNerney, Jr., shared why Boeing – the largest aerospace company in the world – seeks out and hires Rensselaer graduates: they share with the company “an aspirational element,” and a commitment to making the world a better place. This successful technical partnership earned recognition for Rensselaer in 2012 as a Boeing Supplier of the Year. While demonstrating its affinity for the university through existing partnerships, Boeing is in continual pursuit of additional opportunities for collaboration.
We are very proud to honor The Boeing Company with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for their long-standing research partnership with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and exceptional dedication to the student experience.