Company Established Scholarships In Three States

EADS North America has established university engineering scholarships in the three states -- Mississippi, Florida and South Carolina -- that were finalists during the company's industrial site competition for its multi-role tanker production and assembly facility.

EADS North America presented $100,000 to each of the state Governors to establish five-year scholarship programs at Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi; the University of Central Florida and University of Florida; and South Carolina's Clemson University, The Citadel, and the University of South Carolina.

The company says the scholarships will be awarded to deserving students pursuing degrees in aerospace engineering and related fields. Additionally, scholarship recipients will be encouraged to apply for internships at Airbus North America's newest US engineering center, currently under construction at the the company's Mobile, AL location -- the site ultimately chosen for EADS North America's military tanker industrial facility. The Mobile Engineering Center is scheduled to open in early 2007.

"During our site selection process, we were impressed with the dedication and educational excellence of students in Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina, and we made a commitment to build lasting partnerships with these states and their local communities," explained Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America's Chairman and CEO. "The scholarship contributions are a fulfillment of our promise and part of our company's commitment to creating a new center of aerospace excellence in the Southeastern United States."

EADS North America held a five-month nationwide selection process in 2005 to choose the industrial site where the company would assemble militarized A330 commercial aircraft as the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker. EADS North America is a teammate and principal subcontractor to Northrop Grumman, which is offering the KC-30 advanced tankers for the United States Air Force's next-generation aerial refueling aircraft.

Should the US Air Force select the KC-30, a Northrop Grumman-led industrial team would create a large facility at Brookley Field in Mobile, AL, where the aircraft would be assembled, outfitted and delivered to USAF.

FMI: www.eads.com