Nokian Tyres Announces Winners of 2024 Scholarships

DAYTON, Tenn. – Rhea County High School graduates Madison Hinely and Aidyn Martin are the winners of the 2024 Nokian Tyres Scholarship.

The global tiremaker with a growing factory in Dayton, Tennessee will support the high-achieving Rhea County High School students with a one-time award to support their undergraduate studies. It’s the fifth year Nokian Tyres has offered the scholarship to RCHS students who plan to study a STEM subject and who share Nokian Tyres’ passion for protecting the environment.

Hinely is a Spring City native who plans to study mechanical engineering at The University of Tennessee. She graduates with a 4.0 grade point average, which she earned while leading the trumpet section in the RCHS marching band. She aspires to work in the nuclear energy field.

“I have always been passionate about math, puzzles, and building things with my dad,” Hinely said. “The idea of using both math and my hands to solve problems excites me and will play a big role in my dream job. I am thankful to Nokian Tyres for supporting my educational goals.”

Martin, also a Spring City resident, plans to study veterinary medicine at The University of Tennessee. She earned a 4.0 GPA while devoting time to history club, Rhea County academic champions, Beta Club and Best Buddies. She plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian.

“I am passionate about education because I feel I can make a difference in the world,” said Martin. “It’s super great when companies like Nokian Tyres support people who want to make a difference.”

The annual scholarship is one of several ways Nokian Tyres strives to serve the Rhea County and Southeast Tennessee communities as part of its Road to Sustainable Success, which focuses on:

• Supporting education in Southeast Tennessee
• Providing scholarships to high-achieving students, and
• Serving as an advocate for sustainability in the region

The company has won awards for the factory’s culture and sustainability efforts. In 2021, Nokian Tyres earned Manufacturer of the Year honors from the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers’ Association. The company was the first in Rhea County to earn the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Sustainable Performance, the state’s top environmental honor.

And Nokian Tyres has the first LEED v4 Silver-certified tire production building in the world, a complex that is partially powered by solar energy. The company is a member of Thrive Regional Partnership and recently joined the Tennessee Green Star Partnership, a corporate environmental leadership program offered by the State of Tennessee.

Operations are growing at the Dayton Factory. The company is increasing production volume this year after expanding its workforce to 500 team members. And Nokian Tyres is completing construction of a finished goods warehouse on the production campus that will make Dayton an even more important focal point in its global network.