2024 NFPA Robotics Challenge Scholarship Winner Announced

Evan Tan of Conway, AR is the winner of the 2024 NFPA Robotics Challenge Scholarship. The scholarship program received strong applications from students across the country who used pneumatics in high school robotics competitions.

This scholarship program helps build awareness of fluid power benefits and careers among high school students. The scholarship awards $30,000 ($7,500 per year for four years) to a high school senior who participates on a FIRST® or VEX Robotics Competition Team and uses fluid power in their competition robot. The money awarded is used to study fluid power relevant degree programs at any accredited college or university in the United States.

The NFPA member judges who interviewed Evan were impressed by his understanding of pneumatics, passion for engineering, and service involvement in his community. Evan will be using the scholarship to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR.

Additionally, the following students have been selected by the judges based on their application submissions to receive a meritorious award:

• Ayush Shah, Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington ($3,000)
• Gregory Powers, Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University ($3,000)
• Ailey Smith, Mechanical Engineering at the University of Florida ($2,000)
• Emily Bolin, Mechanical Engineering at Grace College ($2,000)

We want to thank the NFPA Scholarship Review Committee: Bill Haley of FORCE America, BJ Wagner of the International Fluid Power Society, Bob Hammond of Deltrol Fluid Products, Brittany Kulka of Husco, Bradlee Dittmer of IMI Norgren, Caleb Vickers of Power Systems, Inc. of Florida, Charles Werdehoff of IMI Norgren, Charles DiVincenzo of Bucher Hydraulics, Daniel Hurst of SKF USA, Edgar Torres of Bucher Hydraulics, Frank Langro of Festo, Gabriel Schatko of Exotic Automation & Supply, Greg Johnson of Hydra-Power Systems, Holden Galvan of Permco, John Falcon of ROSS Controls, Jonathan Steigerwald of Gates, Jose Solorio Cervantes of Parker Hannifin, Josh Scarbrough of IFP Motion Solutions Inc., Jyotsna Phadke, Karen Carroll of ROSS Controls, Michael Cook of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, Mike Betz of Danfoss, Neil Ferguson of SPX FLOW, Robby Haun of Festo, Rowan Leehue of McElroy Manufacturing, Spencer Tiegs of Milwaukee Tool, Steve Downey of Hydraulex, Thomas Blansett of the International Fluid Power Society, and Tom Peterson of Husco.

Many of these students will be seeking internships or full-time jobs in the future, so please keep them in mind for your hiring needs. Watch for future NFPA News articles, where we will highlight the accomplishments of each applicant

If you would like to be a judge for next year’s NFPA scholarship programs, please contact Haley Nemeth at hnemeth@nfpa.com.