Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner—Cole Rickerson

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 $2,000 scholarships to students pursuing fluid power technology fields of study.

Here’s one of the winnersCole Rickerson. He is attending Texas A&M University and is enrolled in the Industrial Distribution Engineering program. We asked Cole about winning the scholarship . . .

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?
Winning the Fluid Power Scholarship is a huge blessing to me. As a student who is paying through my tuition on my own, this allows me to focus more of my time on my studies instead of working while classes are in session. The scholarship will relieve a huge portion of the stress that incurs with paying my tuition.

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?
I chose to study classes related to the fluid power industry because of the relevance to my current job. I currently work for Nalco Water working with increasing pump efficiency, as well as moving water from point A to point B. This scholarship goes hand and hand with what I am currently doing.

What are your career aspirations? What type of fluid power job do you hope to get after you graduate?
My current career aspirations are to become an engineer for Nalco Water. I am currently interning for them and I have decided that it would make a great job for me outside of college. Within the company I would like to become a manager of accounts.

The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in high schools, technical colleges, and engineering schools pursue their interests in fluid power. We are now accepting applications for the 2020 Fluid Power Scholarships through March 18, 2020For further information about the Fluid Power Scholarship program, contact Amy Zignego, Workforce Program Manager, at azignego@nfpa.com.

Recent Posts

Member Highlights the Value of NFPA’s Conferences

At NFPA, our members’ experiences are the foundation of what we do. We’re excited to share our latest testimonial video featuring Ken Baker, CEO of Bailey International, who underscores the value of attending NFPA events. In his video, Ken highlights how the Economic & Industry Outlook Conference provides invaluable insights for his business. From the…

Read More about Member Highlights the Value of NFPA’s Conferences

NAM Regulatory Update: House Passes Critical Minerals Bill

As part of an effort to bring more information about the regulatory and legal environment facing American manufacturers, NFPA is monitoring the newsfeed of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and will be bringing important updates like this to the attention of NFPA members. (November 15, 2024) The House easily passed an NAM-backed bill intended…

Read More about NAM Regulatory Update: House Passes Critical Minerals Bill

Fall 2024 Economic Update Webinar – Recording Available 

The most recent NFPA Economic Update Webinar featured Lauren Saidel-Baker of ITR Economics. Learn what to expect from a number of our industry’s most popular customer markets, while also getting the answers you need to the short-term outlook for the fluid power industry. These insights and more are available to NFPA members in the archived recording of the…

Read More about Fall 2024 Economic Update Webinar – Recording Available