General Motors Co. Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson on Thursday returned to his hometown of Mankato, Minn., to award two students at Mankato West High School with new college scholarships each worth $40,000.
Akerson, who graduated from Mankato High School in 1966, and his wife, Karin, established the Akerson Family Scholarships this year to help a male and female student with their college education.
The Akersons have had a long history of philanthropy, including their time in Detroit where they have donated to Habitat for Humanity Detroit and the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Akerson visited the school Thursday and presented the scholarships to the winners during an annual honors assembly. GM spokesman Greg Martin said Akerson’s old baseball coach was among those in the crowd.