HOUGHTON – ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company, has established an annual scholarship fund for civil and electrical engineering students at Michigan Technological University to honor its retired chief operating officer and Michigan Tech Board of Trustees member Jon E. Jipping.

“Over the years, I’ve witnessed Jon’s passion and commitment to developing students, interns and professionals entering engineering and STEM careers. He has served as an advocate and mentor to those in the engineering field, and through this scholarship he will continue to support the next generation of engineers,” said Linda Apsey, President and CEO of ITC.

From left: ITC President and CEO Linda Apsey, Jon Jipping, and David Lawrence, Michigan Tech’s vice president for Global Campus and continuing education.

ITC’s gift will create the Jon E. Jipping Annual Scholarship to provide financial support for students who currently attend or are entering Michigan Tech. To qualify, students must have a minimum 2.8 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Preference for the renewable scholarship awards will be given to graduates of Michigan high schools.

The scholarship was announced at ITC’s headquarters in Novi, Michigan, as employees and Jipping’s family gathered to celebrate his retirement. One of ITC’s founding employees in 2003, Jipping was director of engineering, vice president of engineering, then senior vice president of engineering before he served as COO from 2007-2023.

“Over the span of my career, I’ve had the privilege to work with engineers who brought forth creative solutions and ideas that transformed the way we built, maintained and operated the electrical grid. When I look at the future needs of our society, we need more engineers with this ingenuity mindset to propel us forward,” said Jipping, who earned his master’s degree in electrical engineering with a power concentration at Michigan Tech in 1991. “I’m honored and grateful to ITC and Michigan Tech to be able to help others find their path, and pursue careers in engineering.”

“Jon is a remarkable role model for the Michigan Tech community,” said Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek. “From his time as chair of the Engineering Advisory Board for the College of Engineering to his current role on the Board of Trustees, Jon has always put student success at the forefront of his conversations.”

Initial awards will go to a first-year student majoring in civil or electrical engineering and a third-year student majoring in electrical engineering with an electric power engineering concentration. Subsequent scholarships will be awarded to first-year students in civil or electrical engineering with an electric power engineering concentration.

Recipients of the Jon E. Jipping Annual Scholarship will also receive preference for paid internships at ITC.

Award recipients will be selected by Michigan Tech’s Scholarship Committee in conjunction with ITC leadership, along with the University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.