Company expands Student Development Program, creates campus workspace and donates $200,000 for student scholarships in ongoing commitment to higher education
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 17, 2025) – In a new partnership with The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering, Bobcat Company is supporting the next generation of engineers, supply chain experts and STEM professionals with a $200,000 donation for scholarships for students in the engineering college as well as the Belk College of Business and the College of Computing and Informatics. The partnership will also expand the company’s Student Development Program on the UNC Charlotte campus by creating an unmatched workplace for participants and a talent pipeline for students embarking on their careers in North Carolina and beyond.
“We are honored to support the next generation of groundbreaking innovators and engineers,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. “Our collaboration with UNC Charlotte is a gamechanger for both the University and Bobcat, fostering opportunities for the STEM leaders of tomorrow and reinforcing our mission of empowering people to accomplish more.”
For more than a decade, Bobcat’s Student Development Program has nurtured high-potential engineering students at premier institutions across the nation by offering part-time work opportunities that support their college education while connecting the Bobcat team with skilled future engineers.
Bobcat’s Student Development Program at UNC Charlotte will likewise provide a dedicated workspace for participants, complete with campus workstations. Participating students will also have access to Bobcat professionals and experiential learning through hands-on projects that provide valuable, real-world experiences.
“Bobcat is showcasing how industry and academia can together lead by providing opportunities for the next generation of talent in technology-related fields,” said Rob Keynton, Dean of the W. S. Lee College of Engineering. “The state of North Carolina has become an engineering hub for a variety of industries that rely on skilled engineers to move innovation forward. This partnership with Bobcat will provide a tremendous opportunity for our students and create a place where a company and college meet and collaborate.”
Bobcat’s $200,000 donation to UNC Charlotte will also support scholarships over the next three years for students studying in STEM, supply chain and logistics programs.
The scholarship program and Student Development Program are key aspects of Bobcat’s partnership with UNC Charlotte. Beyond these initiatives, Bobcat employees will engage with the university across a range of academic areas through collaborative efforts such as research projects, senior design experiences, classroom and faculty engagement, and emerging partnerships in fields like supply chain management. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to student development, innovation and long-term collaboration in the Charlotte area.
Bobcat has a long history of supporting STEM education and serving the communities where it operates. UNC Charlotte is in close proximity to the Bobcat manufacturing facility in Statesville, North Carolina. In 2022, Bobcat completed a 600,000-square-foot expansion of the Statesville manufacturing, warehouse and distribution complex. The $70 million investment doubled the facility’s footprint to nearly 1.2 million square feet and added 62 acres to the current 92-acre campus, making it the company’s largest manufacturing campus worldwide. The partnership with UNC Charlotte will also support workforce development for the Statesville facility.
Bobcat started its Student Development Program in North Dakota with North Dakota State University in Fargo and the University of Mary in Bismarck. Since it was launched over a decade ago, more than 135 students have participated in the program, creating a pipeline of skilled engineers, many of whom have joined Bobcat post-graduation. To learn more about how Bobcat is supporting the growth and development of students, please visit bobcat.com/stem. For more information on UNC Charlotte’s engineering college, please visit engr.charlotte.edu.
About Bobcat Company
Bobcat Company empowers people to accomplish more, a mission it has honored since creating the compact equipment industry in 1958. As a leading global manufacturer, Bobcat has a proud legacy of innovation, delivering smart solutions to customers’ toughest challenges. Backed by the support of a global dealership network, Bobcat offers an extensive line of worksite solutions, including loaders, excavators, tractors, utility vehicles, telehandlers, mowers, turf renovation equipment, light compaction, portable power, industrial air, forklifts, attachments, implements, parts and services.
With its North American headquarters in West Fargo, North Dakota, Bobcat leads the industry with its innovative offerings designed to transform how the world works, builds cities and supports communities for a more sustainable future. The Bobcat brand is owned by Doosan Bobcat Inc., a company within Doosan Group.
About William States Lee College of Engineering
As North Carolina’s urban research university, UNC Charlotte is ranked as a Top 100 Public University by U.S. News. The institution is home to the nationally ranked W.S. Lee College of Engineering, with over 150 faculty and 3,600 students, making it North Carolina’s 2nd largest engineering college. The many research awards, including NSF CAREER, Fulbright and NIST Flemming, demonstrate the college's commitment to research and contribute to the university’s R1 Carnegie classification in 2025. Learn how W.S.Lee College of Engineering is forging the future.
©2025 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved.
