KU Sophomore Receives Scholarship, Internship from TE Connectivity through African Heritage Scholarship Program

Photo of Savannah Crutchfield

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland – TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectivity and sensors, will welcome 14 students, including Kutztown University sophomore Savannah Crutchfield, into the first year of the African Heritage Scholarship Program, a $3.5 million investment in the company's efforts to further diversify its workforce and bring new opportunities in the technology industry to top-performing Black and African American students in the United States.

Crutchfield is an information technology major from Pottsville, Pa. and will join TE in May to complete a 10- to 12-week internship at sites throughout the U.S. Upon successful completion of the internship, students will receive a scholarship of up to $22,500 for their junior year, based on financial need, and will be invited back for a second internship at TE next summer. The scholarship would then be eligible for renewal for their senior year. TE expects a new cohort of students will join the African Heritage Scholarship Program each year for the next five years.

"We were impressed by the caliber of the applicants in the first year of the program and I know that our recipients will help make TE better with their talent and ideas,” said CEO Terrence Curtin. “STEM-related companies will be served well by recruiting a diversity of voices and backgrounds and we are excited to expand our efforts through this new program, which was created by a diligent team from TE’s African Heritage Employee Resource Group."

This year’s cohort of scholars includes students from Alabama A&M University, College of the Canyons, Howard University, Kutztown University, North Carolina A&T, Rutgers University, University of Arizona, University of California, University of Georgia, University of Houston, University of Miami and University of Texas.

Students will be working in a wide variety of roles, including product R&D, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, product management and supply chain. TE’s internship program is designed to fill the company’s leadership development programs and early career roles. In addition to real world job experience with a global impact, TE’s interns experience a wide range of professional development workshops covering financial literacy, corporate communications and personal branding. Other programming includes global networking events, community involvement opportunities and executive exposure. 

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY
TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter.