A O Smith : awards 24 students merit scholarships

Milwaukee, Wis.-A total of 24 students from the U.S., China, Mexico, The Netherlands, and Vietnam have earned 2017 merit scholarships awarded by A. O. Smith Corporation.

The recipients, sons or daughters of A. O. Smith Corporation employees, were selected based on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, work experience, and honors.

The 2017 A. O. Smith merit scholarship recipients are:

From Ashland City, Tennessee:

• Wyatt Blessing of Clarksville, Tenn., son of Randy and Kim Blessing. Blessing will be a first year student at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., in the fall of 2017;
• Alexia Haynes Charlotte, Tenn., daughter of Misty Haynes and Sam Jones. Haynes will be a first year student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., in the fall of 2017;
• Bailey Millett of Ashland City, Tenn., daughter of David and Suzanne Millett. Millett will be a first year student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tenn. in the fall of 2017;
• Tiffany Smith of Ashland City, Tenn., daughter of Scarlett and Raymond Smith. Smith will be a first year student at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., in the fall of 2017;
• Xiaodi Whitfield of Bountville, Tenn., daughter of John and Laura Whitfield. Whitfield will be a third year student at the University of Tennessee in Martin, Tenn., in the fall of 2017.

From Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico:

• Misael Chavez Gonzalez of Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, son of José Antonio Chavez Varela and Irma Gonzalez Galvan. Chavez will be a third year student at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez in the city of Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico in the fall of 2017;
• Braulio Figueroa of Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, son of Braulio Figueroa and Patricia Juarez. Figueroa will be a second year student at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez in the city of Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico in the fall of 2017;
• Felipe de Jesus Reyes Reynoso of Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, son of Felipe Reyes Leon and Rosalia Reynoso Oregon. Reyes will be a second year student at the Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez in the city of Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico;
• Edith Valero Portillo of Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, daughter of Silvina Portillo Jasso. Portillo will be a second year student at the Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez in the city of Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico.

From El Paso, Texas:

• Fabian Rosas of El Paso, Texas, son of Ignacio Rosas and Eva Cruz. Rosas will be a third year student at the University of Texas in El Paso, Texas, in the fall of 2017.

From Florence, Kentucky:

• Adrianna Waters of Florence, Ky., daughter of James and Doris Waters. Waters will be a first year student at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., in the fall of 2017.

From Johnson City, Tennessee:

• Haley McBrayer of Bristol, Tenn., daughter of Steve and Dara McBrayer. McBrayer will be a first year student at the East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., in the fall of 2017;
• Amy Shumaker of Bristol, Tenn., daughter of Andy and Pennie Shumaker. Shumaker will be a second year student at Milligan College in Milligan College, Tenn., in the fall of 2017;
• Robert Yeatts of Mountain City, Tenn., son of Dan and Rebecca Snyder. Yeatts will be a first year student at the East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., in the fall of 2017.
  From Lebanon, Tennessee:
• Abigail Leanhart Louisville, Ky., daughter of Scott and Jenny Leanhart. Leanhart will be a third year student at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky., in the fall of 2017;
• McKenzie Wallmark of Hendersonville, Tenn., daughter of Rick and Sandra Wallmark. Wallmark will be a third year student at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., in the fall of 2017.

From Nanjing, China:

• Zhe Chen, daughter of Yongfen Bu and He Liang Chen. Zhe Chen is entering her fourth year at the Changchun Finance and Economic University in Changchun, majoring in English.
• Ying He, daughter of Cheng He and Mei Li Dong. Ying He is entering her third year at the Nanjing Normal University in Nanjing, majoring in preschool education.
• Zihan Lu, son of Feng and Zhengyuan Lu. Zihan Lu is entering his first year at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., majoring in accounting.
• Rong Yang, daughter of Hong yun Liu and He Yang Shou. Rong Yang is entering her second year at the Yan'an University in Yan'an, majoring in visual design;
• Wei Zhang, daughter of Zehua and Qianyun Zhang. Wei Zhang is entering her second year at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Nanjing, majoring in mechanical engineering;
• Yue Zhou, daughter of Chunfang Yue and Zhou Jining. Yue Zhou is entering her third year at the Nanjing University Jingling College in Nanjing, majoring in finance management.

From Veldhoven, The Netherlands:

• Kevin van der Donk of Best, NB, son of Michael and Petra van der Donk. van der Donk will be a first year student at the Avans Hogeschool in Breda, The Netherlands in the fall of 2017.

From Hanoi, Vietnam:

• Le Minh of Hanoi, Vietnam, son of Le Quoc Vinh and Do Thanh Huang. Minh will be a second year student at the University of Washington in Bothell, Wash., in the fall of 2017.

The A. O. Smith Merit Scholarship program is open to the children of employees in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and India. To be considered, the student must be a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or vocational school degree program. Scholarships help cover a portion of the tuition costs at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational technical school of the student's choice.

The company awards scholarships annually, which may be renewed for up to three additional years or until the recipient earns a bachelor's degree. The A. O. Smith Scholarship program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a program of ScholarshipAmerica ® of St. Peter, Minn.