ROCKFORD, Ill., Dec. 9, 2015 – Fifteen students pursuing careers in manufacturing each earned $2,500 or $3,500 toward their post-secondary studies from Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, the foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA).

For the Spring 2016 semester, Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (NBT) awarded manufacturing scholarships to the following students:

• Ashley Dale, New Palestine, Ind. – Electrical Engineering/Physics at Butler University

• Veronika Dubravec, Rockford, Mich. – Mechanical Engineering at University of Michigan

• Lois Felker, Kirkland, Wash. – Welding Technology at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

• Austin Haas, Yakima, Wash. – CNC Manufacturing/Machining at Perry Technical Institute

• Krystle Hall-Johnson, Maywood, Ill. – Engineering Technology/Mechanical Design at Triton College

• Jeremy Kaszycki, Rockford, Ill. – Manufacturing Engineering at Bradley University

• Joseph Katula, Yorkville, Ill. – Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University

• Gene Leitheiser, Robins, Iowa – Industrial Maintenance Technology at Kirkwood Community College

• Nikolas Mifsud, Penngrove, Calif. – Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State University

• Oscar Molina, Rosemead, Calif. – Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University

• Cody Oberlander, Yakima, Wash. – Instrumentation & Industrial Automation Technologies at Perry Technical Institute

• Travis Olson, Horicon, Wis. – Welding Technology at Moraine Park Technical College

• Tyler Rigby, South Park, Pa. – Mechanical Engineering at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College (John Grossheim Memorial Scholarship recipient)

• Joshua Smith, Loveland, Colo. – Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University

• Ross Snyder, Platte City, Mo. – Mechanical Engineering at University of Missouri Kansas City

“We are pleased to award scholarships to these deserving students and are happy to assist them in reaching their academic goals,” said Edward Youdell, president of Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs. “They recognize that skilled manufacturing careers can be rewarding financially and fulfilling personally and will help them be more competitive in the current job market.”

“The most difficult U.S. jobs to fill today are those in the skilled trades and engineering,” added Youdell. “With majors in robotics and automation, CNC technology, structural and pipe welding, sheet metal fabrication, engineering, and precision machining technology, these students will be prepared for the skilled labor openings that American manufacturers must fill.”

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants were required to be full-time students meeting a specified minimum GPA, and enrolled in an engineering or manufacturing-related course of study, or a trade or technical program leading to a career in manufacturing. Students were responsible for submitting academic records and an engineering or manufacturing-related program description with each application.

In addition to the scholarship, each winner also received from NBT’s industry partner SolidWorks Corporation a copy of its Student Design Kit CAD software package. The Student Design Kit is an easy-to-learn, Windows-based 3D CAD application that gives students the ability to create “real-life” 3D designs they can easily manipulate.

Since 1990, FMA’s Foundation has awarded scholarships annually to students in courses of study that will lead to careers in manufacturing. For more information visit nutsandboltsfoundation.org/Scholarships.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or a live online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000.

About FMA

Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal processors, fabricators, and equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH^® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Sustainable Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally-friendly manufacturing. The official publications of FMA include The FABRICATOR®; TPJ -The Tube & Pipe Journal®; STAMPING Journal®; Practical Welding Today®; The FABRICATOR® en Español; and Canadian Industrial Machinery®.

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Contact

Cindy Day
Senior Manager, Credentialing & Foundation
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA)
(815) 227-8208
cindyd@fmanet.org