Well known for its leadership role in evolving trends in the automotive industry, Northwood University will see two electric vehicle charging stations installed on campus thanks to support from “Project 100.”
Project 100 is a development initiative intended to put the power in the hands of the donors. A group of 100 Northwood alumni, employees, and friends gathers once every semester to review three projects from campus groups requesting funding. The members each donate $100 and then collectively decide which project receives the funding.
Last week, at its bi-annual virtual meeting, the group reviewed three exceptional proposals and ultimately elected to fund NU Auto’s charging station project with a $10,000 award. Other proposals were presented by the Esports department and the Fashion Showcase group.
Blake Holland, a Northwood senior, majoring in automotive marketing and management, said his NU Auto team plans to install a pair of Level 2 chargers in parking lots near the Sloan Family Building and the Bennett Sports Center. Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt power source like ovens and clothes dryers and can charge a typical electric vehicle faster than a Level 1 EV charging station.
According to plugshare.com, there are currently 20 public charging stations in Midland County. Only two of these are free, and only one is a DC fast charger, which operates on direct current, unlike Level 1 or 2.
“We are extremely excited to implement this new automotive technology onto Northwood’s campus,” said Holland, who also serves as a chief operating officer of the Northwood University International Auto Show. “This project will benefit students and staff at Northwood, as well as visitors to the Auto Show and the Midland community. We have not yet chosen a specific charger. We will continue to research which charger will be the best fit for campus and our desired location.”
The three final projects were selected from a field of submissions from across the University and narrowed down by the Alumni Leadership Council. This volunteer group advises the Northwood Alumni Department.
“All three groups had amazing presentations, and all were well-deserving of the funding,” said Julie Adamczyk, executive director of alumni relations at Northwood University. “However, only one group can win the majority of the vote. The NU Auto organization was persistent. They applied for the funding in the spring of 2021 and did not come out with the prize. So they came back with an improved presentation and won a majority of the votes the second time around. Project 100 embodies who we are at Northwood by nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit and through our support of one another.”
Previous projects funded by the group include:
Spring 2017 – Fashion Retail Software
Fall 2017 – Student Life – Woody’s Wheels Campus Golf Cart
Spring 2018 – Timby Media Productions Equipment
Fall 2018 – Automotive Aftermarket Project Car
Spring 2019 – Student Alumni Network Outdoor Activities
Fall 2019 – Hospitality Enterprises Food Truck
Spring 2020 – Cancelled due to pandemic
Fall 2020 – Finance Association Event
Spring 2021 – NU Idea Center Podcast Studio
If you are interested in becoming a member of Northwood’s Project 100 and making an impact on the University and its students, you can learn more and join at our Project 100 page.
