Nokian Tyres’ scholarships, educational partnerships impacting Rhea – rheaheraldnews.com
DAYTON — Rising college freshman Landon Stewart plans to be a mechanical engineer in the community where he grew up. Nokian Tyres is helping him on his journey from Rhea County High School to Bryan College to a job in his hometown — all located within a few miles of each other, but part of a long and rewarding road to achieve his career goals.
Stewart and Elijah Anderson are the 2025 recipients of the Nokian Tyres Scholarship, part of the company’s initiative to support education in Rhea County and Southeast Tennessee, where the tiremaker operates its award-winning North American tire factory.
“I’d love to make an impact on the future of Dayton,” Stewart said. “It will be great to get my degree (in my hometown], plus have my support system. My family has always supported me, and teachers and coaches pushed me hard to get me to where I am today.”
Stewart and Anderson, a prospective mechanical engineering major at Milligan College, are among a growing number of Southeast Tennesseans benefiting from Nokian Tyres’ workforce development efforts. The company also hosts a career experience program with Rhea County High School, offers an apprenticeship program through Cleveland State Community College, and employs interns from area colleges and universities.
“It is vital for us to be an active member of the Southeast Tennessee community,” said Nokian Tyres Human Resources Director Blake Markham. “That means building strong roots here, supporting schools and students as they strive for success.”
Nokian Tyres is in its seventh year offering scholarships to high-achieving Rhea County High School students interested in pursuing STEM careers, dating back to the year it opened its Dayton Factory, where it employs approximately 500 team members. Its work experience program has equipped dozens of RCHS students for job opportunities in production and maintenance.
The tiremaker strengthens career skills for higher education students, too. Nokian Tyres provides work-based learning opportunities for students at community colleges and universities throughout the region, including UT-Chattanooga, Chattanooga State, Bryan College and Cleveland State. The latter partners with Nokian Tyres on an apprenticeship program that pairs second-year students with mentors who help prepare them for jobs upon graduation.
The robust commitment to education helps enrich Nokian Tyres’ recruiting pipeline as the company grows its presence in North America. The tiremaker set an annual production record in 2024 and continues to increase production of all-weather and all-season tires for sale in the United States and Canada. As Nokian Tyres’ operations in Southeast Tennessee continue to expand, the company will keep investing in the workforce that has enabled it to thrive.
“Nokian Tyres is on my list of career possibilities,” said Anderson. “Them giving to the community like this is great, and this definitely influences me to think about them.”
Read more about Nokian Tyres’ Dayton Factory and apply for jobs there at NokianTires.com/DaytonFactory.
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