Outokumpu and the University of South Alabama are marking a milestone in their long-running partnership, as Mobile native Jessica Ivory becomes the first recipient of the Outokumpu Scholarship in Engineering and a 2026 summer intern at Outokumpu’s Calvert mill.
The scholarship, funded through an endowed gift established by Outokumpu, supports engineering students at South while strengthening connections between higher education and advanced manufacturing along the Gulf Coast. Ivory, a mechanical engineering student entering her junior year, was selected as the inaugural recipient and is spending the summer gaining hands-on manufacturing experience at the Calvert facility.
“South has been instrumental in helping us develop local talent,” said Chantal van der Walt, senior vice president of human resources for Outokumpu’s business area Americas. “Through this scholarship and internship opportunity, we’re investing directly in students while they’re still in school. Together, we’re helping create pathways to meaningful careers while strengthening the future workforce of our region.”
The scholarship builds on a longstanding relationship between Outokumpu and South’s College of Engineering that has included internships, recruitment initiatives and career development opportunities for students. “At the University of South Alabama, we are committed to preparing students to solve real-world engineering challenges through hands-on learning and strong industry partnerships,” said Dr. Darryl James, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our collaboration with Outokumpu gives students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom, gain valuable professional experience and launch careers that contribute to the economic growth and innovation of our region. We are proud to see Jessica become the first recipient of this scholarship and look forward to seeing many more students benefit from this investment.”
As a woman pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, Ivory’s experience also highlights efforts to create more pathways for students to explore careers in advanced manufacturing. Outokumpu operates America’s most advanced stainless steel mill in Calvert, Alabama, and is the second-largest producer of sustainable stainless steel in the United States, with products made from up to 95% recycled materials.
About Public Education in Alabama
Alabama’s public schools are administered through a combination of local boards of education and the Alabama State Department of Education, which implements statewide standards and accountability measures. Public universities and community colleges operate under the oversight of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and separate governing boards. Education funding, teacher pay, and curriculum standards are perennial subjects of debate in the Legislature, and decisions made in Montgomery affect classrooms from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley.
About the Regional Economy
The economy of south Alabama is diversified across sectors including aerospace, shipbuilding, healthcare, tourism, agriculture, and port-related commerce. The Port of Mobile is among the largest in the nation by tonnage and supports a wide range of logistics and industrial activity. Major employers include military installations, hospitals, universities, and manufacturing facilities. Economic development organizations at the city and county level work to attract investment and retain jobs, and state incentive programs frequently play a role in site-selection decisions.