David and Carol Williams Scholarship
Carol A. and David P. Williams of Midland, Michigan were married on September 19, 2009. Carol Williams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1980 and an Executive Business Education from Indiana University in 1997. David Williams earned a Bachelor Science degree in accounting from the University of Houston in 1979 and a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Houston in 1980.
Carol Williams has worked at The Dow Chemical Company since 1980. She began her career as an Engineer in Plastic Films and Foams Research and Development (R&D). In 1991, she became the R&D Manager for Dexco Polymers, a joint partnership between Exxon Corporation and The Dow Chemical Company. In 1993, she worked as Lab Director and became the Manufacturing Director in 1999. In 2000, she worked as Business Director for Chlor Alkali Assets, and she was became Purchasing Vice President in 2001. In 2007, she worked as Corporate Vice President of Market Facing Business Development, and she was promoted in 2009 to Business President Chemicals. In 2012, she began serving as Executive Vice President – Operations. David Williams has worked as a financial and insurance executive.
Carol Williams has been recognized in a number of ways over the years, including Genesis Award Nominee for People Leadership (2002), Stevie Awards for Women in Business for Best Executive (2008), Carnegie Mellon Alumnae of the Year (2009), The Diversity Journal – 8th Annual Women Worth Watching (2010), The National Association of Professional Women – Women of the Year (2010/2011), Extraordinary Women of Midland County at the Doan History Center (2011-2012) and Junior Achievement – Laureate (2014). She is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers and Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. Carol Williams has also served as a Board Member for the Midland Area United Way (2009) and Community Fund Raising Chairperson for the Midland Area United Way (2012).
Impact
The Carol and David Williams Scholarship Endowment is being created by a generous gift to the Delta College Foundation. It is intended that the distributions of interest from the Endowment will provide scholarship support for students from the Great Lakes Bay Region who are studying in one of the STEM areas – science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
The Williams believe that scholarships often provide students with the means to complete their schooling. This is the case for Carol, who completed two years at Carnegie Mellon University in chemical engineering obtaining grant money and securing student debt. However, the outlook for the last two years seemed daunting. In the spring of her sophomore year, she competed for a General Motors Corporation scholarship and was selected. This allowed Carol to complete her schooling and to focus on scholastic excellence and not worry about financial challenges.
The Williams also feel that Delta College provides the Great Lakes Bay Region with an excellent starting point for careers in many fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), business and the medical area. They have also understood the need to connect with high school aged students to allow them to see what is possible, and they want to support Delta College with a scholarship to provide students with this hope for their careers.