Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner—Max Kolesnikov

Programs like the Fluid Power Scholarships are made possible in part by the generous support of industry volunteers as well as NFPA Education and Technology Foundation and Pascal Society donors. Support these efforts by making a donation.

The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has awarded fifteen $2,000 scholarships to students pursuing fluid power technology fields of study.

Here’s one of the winners, Max Kolesnikov. Max is attending Moraine Valley Community College and is enrolled in the fluid power program. We asked Max about winning the scholarship…

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?
This scholarship is one of the most important and honorable awards I could have ever received. The NFPA scholarship will not only help me provide the tuition necessary to complete my education, but it will be the foundational core for me to push forward with my pursuit of attaining success in the fluid power industry.

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?
It all started after I competed in a middle school NFPA competition hosted at Harper College. After successfully building a hydraulic motion device, I knew that this would be a career I would want to pursue. I love manufacturing and know that fluid power is one of the most fundamental components that help manufacturing facilities function and operate. Therefore, not only is fluid power a necessity in many industries, it has been a passion of mine to learn and is why I chose to study this amazing field.

What are your career aspirations? What type of fluid power job do you hope to get after you graduate?
I want to become one of the best fluid power technicians in the industry that works in manufacturing plants and facilities to better their pneumatic and hydraulic capabilities. From there, I wish to become one of the leading figures in fluid power and develop innovative and creative ways to establish a strong workforce in the future by showing younger generations the opportunities found in fluid power.

The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in technical colleges and universities pursue their interests in fluid power. For further information about the Fluid Power Scholarship program, contact Amy Zignego, Workforce Program Manager, at azignego@nfpa.com.