LMCC scholarship jolts YSU student’s career goals
The annual Youngstown LMCC scholarship through the YSU Foundation is giving one area student a little more financial breathing room as he works toward a four-year degree.
Ryan Keir, 22, of Salem Township is this year’s $1,500 scholarship winner. The United Local graduate is a junior at YSU majoring in mechanical engineering.
Wired to opportunity
Keir’s connection to the electrical industry is through his dad, Alan Keir, a longtime IBEW Local 64 member and former committee member.
Alan joined Local 64 in 1991, completed the residential apprenticeship and later moved into the commercial/industrial program. He works for Zenith Systems.
Because of his dad, Keir always knew about the scholarship but had to wait until his junior year to be eligible to apply.
He works at Jaxon, a manufacturer in Mineral Ridge, to help cover college expenses, and said the scholarship will go directly toward tuition.
“This makes a big difference. I don’t have a lot of outside scholarship support, so it helps with tuition and keeps me from having to take out loans or pay as much out of pocket,” Keir said.
He chose YSU because it was close to home, offered a strong engineering program and was more affordable.
“I didn’t want to take on any more college debt than necessary.”
Powering forward with work ethic
Keir has been at Jaxon since his senior year in high school. The company produces components used in rail applications, including coupling rods and boxcar door products.
He’s full-time in the summer and works 20 to 30 hours a week during the school year. Keir is responsible for anything from boxcar design and 3D modeling to quality assurance, CNC table and brake press programming, and custom design work.
“I really like manufacturing engineering and finding ways to make parts more efficient,” Keir said. “My goal is to keep moving up and become the go-to person when a problem occurs.”
His father’s influence extends well beyond the scholarship connection.
“My dad taught me there’s no such thing as being unproductive.”
Growing up on Highland Farms in Salem, which his parents own, Keir was always helping with yardwork, projects and running equipment.
“We were always doing something, and there was always something to do.”
Outside of work, Keir is a Sigma Chi brother at YSU and has served as vice president, treasurer and new member educator. During his time as vice president, the chapter raised a record $20,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
He’s volunteered about 200 hours of work at Hall Park in Winona, and helped with events at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Keir also coaches a youth baseball team.
Solid path to a bright future
Living on his own, Keir is working to cover as much of his college costs as possible, with the goal of putting himself in a stronger financial position after graduation.
For him, the scholarship eases some of that pressure while allowing him to stay involved outside of work and school.
“I’m thankful for the scholarship and the opportunity to continue my education. It lessens the financial burden and allows me to keep being involved in the community.”
Each year, IBEW Local 64 and Mahoning Valley NECA awards scholarship funding to students who meet specific criteria.
To qualify, they must live in Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana counties, maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher, and be affiliated with IBEW Local 64 or a signatory electrical contractor in the Mahoning Valley.
NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.
