Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner – Jose Solorio

Byline: Mary Pluta

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

Here’s one of the winners, Jose Solorio. Jose is attending Purdue University. We asked Jose about winning the scholarship…

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?
I feel very thankful to the NFPA for awarding me the fluid Power Scholarship. I was very excited to know about my selection for this honor, and I am deeply grateful. My interest in Fluid Power applications has increased exponentially, thanks to the generous support of sponsors such as NFPA. This scholarship will help pay my educational expenses and will allow me to focus my time more on my projects and studies.

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?
My interest in fluid power applications came when I was doing my bachelor’s degree. However, my passion for implementing technologies related to the instrumentation and control of industrial systems came when I began my professional life. During my time at Purdue, I have reinforced my interest in fluid power, as the focus of my Master’s and now Ph.D. has been on implementing automation systems for hydraulic equipment used in the Oil Extraction Industry. Being a part of the Purdue Fluid Power Club and participating in competitions like the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge has also been huge incentives to fuel my passion.

What are your career aspirations? What type of fluid power job do you hope to get after you graduate?
Thanks to the networking mixers and the events organized by the NFPA, I have had the opportunity to speak and meet many people who work in the industry. My plan is to continue my Ph.D. and expand my knowledge in the area of industrial controls for fluid-powered equipment by doing an internship next year. In the future, I want to work in a position where I can develop novel automation solutions for the fluid power industry. Specifically, I would like to work on industrial equipment’s sensing, automation, and control. Additionally, I would be happy to become an industry mentor and stay involved with NFPA. I believe that the work that mentors do in sharing their experiences and motivating us as students is invaluable.

The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in technical colleges and universities pursue their interests in fluid power. The Fluid Power Scholarship application is available from January 2023 until early April 2023. Please share this opportunity within your network. Additionally, if you would like to serve on the application review committee, please contact Eric Pannell at epannell@nfpa.com.