Jun 07, 2012 
BTU International, Inc., a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment for the alternative energy and electronics manufacturing markets, today announced the recipients of the 2012 Dr. Jeffrey Chuan Chu Memorial Fellowship Program in partnership with Middlesex Community College (MCC), Bedford and Lowell, Mass. The four student recipients were presented with the fellowship awards at a lunch ceremony held at the Middlesex Meetinghouse in Billerica, Mass., in the presence of Mrs. Loretta Chu, the widow of Dr. Chu.
The 2012 winners of the Dr. Jeffrey Chuan Chu Memorial Fellowship Program are MCC honors students Fiona Jamal Almeida, Rebekah Dufrene, William Pelland and Tyler Vaughn. They will join MCC’s International Fellowship Program on a cultural and educational tour of China in June. The 2012 MCC China Tour will include a factory visit to BTU’s facility in Shanghai, China.
“When the BTU Board of Directors decided to honor Dr. Chu’s memory, we found a great partner in the Asian Studies Development Program of MCC, not only acting upon Dr. Chu’s lifelong drive to bridge the cultures of China and the U.S., but also to benefit young students in our local community,” said Paul van der Wansem, chairman and CEO of BTU International. “We think of all the lessons we learned from Dr. Chu as our mentor and, in his spirit, we are proud to help these local students broaden their horizons.”
Dr. Chu (July 14, 1919 – June 6, 2011) was a pioneer in the development of early computer technologies and a crusader for U.S.-China cultural exchange. He was both a teacher and perennial student, invigorated by the world of ideas and was eager to share his knowledge with others. The Dr. Jeffrey Chuan Chu Memorial Fellowship was established by BTU International, Inc. in 2011 to honor the memory of Dr. Chu, who served initially as a consultant and later as Director of the Board to BTU from 1991 through February of 2009. He was highly instrumental in the start of BTU’s operations in China.
Middlesex Community College (www.middlesex.mass.edu) is a dynamic learning community, committed to providing educational programs and services that support personal growth and economic opportunity for its diverse student population. MCC is one of the largest community colleges in the commonwealth with two distinct campuses, a 200-acre suburban campus in Bedford and the other in the heart of the City of Lowell. For more information about MCC's 2012 China Fellowship Program, contact Patricia Demaras, Assistant Dean of International & Multicultural Affairs, at 978-656-3256.
BTU International is a market-leading, global supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment and processes to the alternative energy and electronics assembly markets. BTU’s equipment and expertise are used in the manufacturing of solar cells and nuclear fuel, as well as the production of printed circuit board assemblies and semiconductor packaging. BTU has design and manufacturing operations in North Billerica, Massachusetts and Shanghai, China, with direct sales and service worldwide. Information about BTU International is available at www.btu.com
