Hemlock Public School District and the Lockwood STEM Center have entered into a new partnership with Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) to strengthen STEM education, robotics opportunities, and pathways to postsecondary success for students across the Great Lakes Bay Region.
This collaboration builds on the shared commitment of all three organizations to connect education, innovation, and workforce development in meaningful ways. The agreement outlines several key areas of focus, including expanding access to robotics programs, supporting STEM career exploration, and creating opportunities for students to earn college credit and scholarships.
As part of the partnership, Saginaw Valley State University will establish an annual $3,000 scholarship for students who successfully complete the robotics program at the Lockwood STEM Center and enroll at SVSU as first-year undergraduates. The scholarship is renewable for up to five years for students maintaining full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress.
In addition to the scholarship program, the partnership includes plans to:
Promote SVSU’s educational programs, scholarships, and recruiting events to Hemlock students and families.
Explore new and innovative programs involving local employers, designed to connect students with STEM-related careers.
Investigate dual enrollment opportunities and other pathways that give students a head start on postsecondary education.
Strengthen the region’s economic and community development through education-centered collaboration.
“This partnership represents another step forward in creating real, connected opportunities for our students,” said Hemlock Public School District Superintendent Don Killingbeck. “By aligning K–12 education with higher education and industry, we’re helping prepare students not only for the next step in their education, but also for meaningful careers in our region.”
The Lockwood STEM Center, operated in collaboration with Hemlock Public Schools, serves as a hub for hands-on, experience-based STEM education. Partnering with Saginaw Valley State University further expands the center’s reach, ensuring that students have a clear line of sight from the classroom to college and career pathways.
Board of Education President Matt Wesener echoed this enthusiasm, adding, “Hemlock Public School District continues to build on a strong foundation of STEM education that prepares our students for the future. Partnerships like this one with SVSU and the Lockwood STEM Center reinforce that momentum—ensuring our students have access to the tools, experiences, and opportunities needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”
This agreement will remain in effect for five years, with all partners working within their institutional guidelines to ensure projects and programs provide mutual educational and economic benefit.