Honda-Ohio State partnership welcomes a new class of Honda Scholars

Honda Scholars kicked off the 2019-20 academic year with an Oct. 3 meet and greet featuring the Acura NSX to welcome a new class of scholars and learn about Honda-related research and employment opportunities.

Former Honda Scholar David Tobin, who now works at Honda R & D, talked about his experiences as a scholar, OSU motorsports team member, Honda intern and now Honda employee. “Honda was a big part of my college career, and I appreciated the support I received from Honda,” Tobin said. He added that Honda’s supportive work environment that encourages professional growth sold him on the company as an employer.

He continues to be involved with student motorsports teams in the College of Engineering as an HRA employee and values being part of the RDX development at Honda. Tobin told the scholars that riding in the NSX with the driver who drove the vehicle at Pikes Peak has been the “coolest” thing he’s done in his short career at Honda R & D. Attending the Indy 200 race at Mid-Ohio is also at the top of his list. “There’s so much variety and opportunity at Honda because of the many facilities in central Ohio,” he added.

Joan Smith, co-director of Honda 99P lab on west campus, encouraged scholars to check out the new On Ramp internship program to gain experience in mobility and innovation. Started last year, the On Ramp program inspires students to develop ideas about a future ecosystem of connected, autonomous, electrified and shared (CASE) mobility. Students accepted into the internship program talk to customers and create early stage CASE entrepreneurial ideas. The On-Ramp program is valuable to Honda because “students see opportunities and are not afraid of barriers that stand between them and success,” Smith told the scholars. She said the transportation industry is being “turned on its head” with customer concerns about environmental issues, traffic congestion and safety.

Smith invited the scholars to apply for the spring semester group to experience the process of business ideation, incubation and commercialization. A monthly challenge event also is being developed to match students with Honda associates on potential ideas and projects.

Honda recruiter Madison Edmonds provided an overview of co-op/internship and employment opportunities at the company’s research and manufacturing facilities. She explained how scholars can gain valuable professional experience next spring and summer through positions in research, manufacturing and business operations. Four classes of 83 students currently receive the $3,000 annual scholarship from the Honda-Ohio State Partnership. As high school seniors, the scholars were awarded the Honda-Ohio State math medal or the Stem award, which provides a scholarship opportunity at OSU’s College of Engineering, Fisher College of Business and Arts and Sciences STEM majors.

The Honda-Ohio State Partnership hosts the Honda Scholars three times a year at events designed to introduce the students to Honda, support their pursuit of a STEM degree and develop a relationship with them throughout their undergraduate education.