Ford offers $1m of design scholarships in memory of William Clay Ford

Ford Motor Company has put aside $1million to be awarded in automotive design scholarships over the next 20 years in order to commemorate the life of William Clay Ford who passed away on Sunday.

The Ford Fund will release $10,000 each to five college sophomores or juniors per year who are following a career in car design.

William Clay Ford was the last surviving grandchild of company founder Henry Ford and design was his lifelong passion. He was head of product planning and design during the late 1950s and served on the company's design committee from 1957 to 1989. He most famously led the team that produced the Continental Mark II, while quietly influenced the company's design direction through the '60s.

Full details of the scheme will be announced over the coming months. For more information visit www.community.ford.com

By Owen Ready