Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner – Colin Willits

The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has awarded 20 $2,000 scholarships to students pursuing fluid power related fields of study.

One of the winners, Colin Willits, is attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst. We asked Colin a few questions about winning the scholarship.

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?

Winning this scholarship allows me to further support my education, which is important to me. It will give me an opportunity to do research in my first year. I’m also interested in taking classes outside of my major that could cost more, and the scholarship will offset those costs. 

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?
I chose to learn about fluid power to help slow climate change. Water and air are key components in fluid power and they are all around us. With fluid power, it is possible to increase our sustainability. Ultimately, I’m interested in the potential to create energy from sustainable and reusable resources.

What are your career aspirations? What type of fluid power job do you hope to get after you graduate?

After I graduate I would like to work in the energy sector because I feel alternative energy is important to slowing climate change. I would like a job improving or creating alternative energy solutions. I’m excited about the possibilities of studying engineering and where it may lead.

A minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0, 500-word essay, and letter of recommendation were required from each applicant. The NFPA Foundation’s goal is to help graduating high school students, and individuals enrolled in community colleges, technical schools and universities pursue their academic interests in fluid power.

One way NFPA members can get involved with scholarship programs is to volunteer as a judge to serve on the application review committee. This year 27 judges from 19 NFPA member companies reviewed 122 eligible student applications to the Fluid Power Scholarship program. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Haley Nemeth at hnemeth@nfpa.com.