Dichtel family establishes scholarship to support skilled trades and advanced manufacturing students
Monday, July 14, 2025 12:00 AM
Dichtel family establishes scholarship to support skilled trades and advanced manufacturing students
Gift honors the legacy of the late Ronald J. Dichtel and opens doors for students
A new scholarship at Macomb Community College will help students pursuing careers in the skilled trades and advanced manufacturing, thanks to a generous gift from the family of the late Ronald J. Dichtel, founder of Concord Tool and Manufacturing.
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the company’s founding, the Dichtel family provided an initial $20,000 gift to establish the Ronald J. Dichtel Scholarship to support students enrolled in programs such as CNC machining, CAM technology, welding, and tool and die. This scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition for eligible students. According to his family, throughout his career, Ronald Dichtel touched the lives of countless colleagues, employees and friends with his honesty, work ethic and commitment to the community.
“Giving back the community has always been important to my dad,” said Julie Dichtel. “He encouraged us to help everybody, not just his family and friends but the community at large. He had a dream of starting his own business, and we’re hoping this scholarship will impact a student with a similar dream.”
Scholarship criteria include:
- Currently enrolled in Macomb Community College’s certificate or associate degree programs for CNC machinist, CAM technologist, welding or tool and die.
- Minimum GPA 2.0
- Award used for tuition, fees, books and other educational expenses.
- U.S. citizen
Applicants are not required to complete the FAFSA. All eligible students will be considered for the scholarship regardless of financial need, with preference given to students not eligible for other types of state or federal aid.
Scholarship awards will begin for the Fall 2025 semester. The number of scholarships awarded each year will vary depending on available funds and the number of qualified applicants.
Ronald Dichtel, born in Detroit in 1936, was a U.S. Army veteran and entrepreneur who built Concord Tool and Manufacturing from the ground up when he was 29.
According to Mark Dichtel, CEO of Concord Tool and Manufacturing, Concord’s 290 employees complete 53,000,000 welds annually. They have seen sales grow from $29.4 million in 2018 to $63 million in 2025. He says his hopes for those receiving this scholarship are simple.
“I hope they follow in my dad’s footsteps, and they take his entrepreneurial spirit and the technological skills they are learning from school and apply it to their profession,” said Mark Dichtel.
For questions about the Ronald J. Dichtel Scholarship or how to support student success at Macomb, email foundation@macomb.edu.
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is about transforming lives and communities through the power of education, enrichment and economic development. Macomb grants the largest number of associate degrees in Michigan and is the largest community college in the state. The college provides programming for youth through seniors, including early college for high school students, university transfer and career preparation programs, workforce education, continuing education and certification, and a wide range of enrichment opportunities encompassing arts, culture and lifelong learning.
Media contact: Katlyn Holtvluwer, 586.349.8737, holtvluwerk281@macomb.edu