Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner—Dane Rogers

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

Here’s one of the winners, Dane Rogers. He is attending Spokane Community College and is enrolled in the fluid power program. We asked Dane about winning the scholarship…

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?
Getting awarded means that my hard work in class is being recognized by helping relieve financial burden. It means that I can buy the tools I need for next year to further my education and get more hands-on experience with fluid power equipment. It also means that I have nothing to worry about when it comes to paying for school!

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?
I wanted to be a mechanical engineer since I was in middle school, but when I finally attended university, I was incredibly disappointed in the lack of hands-on work. My father told me about the Fluid Power program at Spokane Community College (SCC) and how they had huge emphasis on lab work. I had no prior interest in fluid power, but the challenge of trying something a bit outside my comfort zone and being able to work how I liked pushed me into learning about fluid power. I left university to join the program at SCC and I haven’t looked back.

What are your career aspirations? What type of fluid power job do you hope to get after you graduate?
I would love to be a service technician for repairing hydraulic components as I really like turning wrenches, but to be completely honest, I’m willing to most anything in this field. I’m versatile in class and would like to remain so in my career. I can talk to people in sales or I can fix a pump in service. As long as it’s fluid power I’m willing to do it.

The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in high schools, technical colleges, and engineering schools 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.