Alstom funds Alfred State scholarship for engineering students

The Alstom Alfred State scholarship will be funded through a $50,000 donation. The money will go to Alfred State College (ASC). This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The donation creates an endowed fund for engineering technology students. It also extends a long-standing partnership with the nearby SUNY school. Alfred State is near Alstom’s manufacturing campus in Hornell, New York. The fund is expected to provide tuition support for two to four students each year.

Alstom Alfred State scholarship for engineering technology students

The scholarship will be open to juniors and seniors in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technology. According to the Alfred State announcement, the fund is meant to reduce financial barriers. It is aimed at students in the region. It is also meant to support students as they prepare for engineering and related fields. Alstom said the donation will be distributed over five years. The endowed scholarship itself will remain in place in perpetuity.

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Meanwhile, Alfred State is about 12 miles from Alstom’s rail manufacturing site in Hornell. The college is known for offering a high-quality, affordable education. It also serves first-generation students and low-income families. Alstom tied the endowment to workforce development in New York State’s Southern Tier. At the same time, it linked the fund to its longer-term need for engineering talent.

“Alfred State has long been a source of exceptional engineering talent for Hornell,” said Sylvain Bouthière, Alstom Hornell’s Site Managing Director. “Their graduates bring curiosity, drive and a spirit of innovation that strengthens our teams and shapes the future of our site. This endowed scholarship reflects our commitment not only to expanding access to well-paying careers in advanced manufacturing, but also to empowering the next generation of thinkers and builders who will define the future of mobility.”

“As mass transit continues to grow across North America, Alstom has been investing in partnerships with colleges and universities in the region to ensure that we will have the talent we need to continue to grow and thrive,” said Dani Simons, Vice President for Public Affairs, Alstom Americas. “Alfred State is a great example of an institution with a clear mission to prepare students for exciting careers. We are thrilled to build on our long-standing partnership with them and support their efforts to give more students access to engineering degrees.”

“We are excited to continue our longstanding partnership with Alstom with this endowed scholarship,” said Alfred State President Dr. Steven Mauro. “The scholarships that will result from this endowment will support our engineering technology students as they near completion of their degrees and prepare to join the workforce. We look forward to future collaborations and strengthening the connection between our organizations, the region, and beyond.”

Long-standing Alstom Alfred State partnership in Hornell

The donation builds on an established relationship between Alstom and the college. That cooperation has included applied learning opportunities in engineering, business and construction management. It has also included site tours and demonstrations for students at the Hornell facility. In addition, Alstom leaders serve on college advisory boards. They help keep academic programs aligned with changing industry needs. Many Alfred State alumni also work at the Hornell campus.

Separately, Alstom and Alfred State partnered on workforce development funding for the area. This ran from 2021 through early 2025. The total reached $1.4 million through the U.S. Department of Labor and the Appalachian Regional Commission. That grant supported a training program held on-site at Alstom.

According to Alstom, its Hornell campus includes four manufacturing plants. It is also the largest rail manufacturing facility in the United States. For example, recent and ongoing work there includes 28 high-speed trainsets for Amtrak. It also includes 130 streetcars for the Philadelphia-area transit system. In addition, it includes propulsion for 1,165 New York City Transit subway cars. More than 520 people work at the site.

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