The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has awarded 20 $2,500 scholarships to students pursuing fluid power related fields of study. One of the winners, Brandon Reshetar, is attending Hennepin Technical College. We asked Brandon a few questions about winning the scholarship.
What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?
This scholarship gives me a sense of validation in my pursuit of advancement in the fluid power industry. It also helps alleviate some of the financial pressure faced when paying for these classes. I am extremely grateful for the help that scholarships like these give to students like myself to make higher education more accessible.
Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?
In early adulthood, I found myself working at a hydraulic cylinder manufacturing company. Over time, I really gained an interest in fluid power, how it works, and what its applications are. Out of pure interest, as well as career advancement, I started in the Fluid Power Engineering Technician program.
What are your career aspirations? What type of fluid power job do you hope to get after you graduate?
Currently, I am the lead of the assembly department in the company that I work for. After graduating, I want to move into the engineering department here so I can design new cylinders for all kinds of fluid power applications. My experience assembling cylinders, combined with the education I’m getting, will give me a great start in the direction of engineering.
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 34 judges from 26 NFPA member companies reviewed 241 eligible student applications to the Fluid Power Scholarship program. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Haley Nemeth at hnemeth@nfpa.com.