Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner – Devin Digman

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, Devin Digman, is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We asked Devin a few questions about winning the scholarship.

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?

Winning this Fluid Power Scholarship Award is a meaningful validation of my hard work, both in academics and hands-on projects. It recognizes my commitment to understanding and applying fluid power technologies and supports my continued education in a field I’m passionate about. The award not only eases the financial burden of college but also motivates me to continue innovating fluid power solutions. It’s an honor to be acknowledged by leaders in the industry I hope to impact.

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?

I chose to learn about fluid power because of my early hands-on experiences growing up on a farm, where I saw firsthand how crucial hydraulics are in agricultural equipment. This interest deepened through my involvement in the National Fluid Power Association through the International Quarter Scale Tractor Design Team* at UW–Madison, where I currently serve as captain. Working directly with hydraulic systems, and integrating them into this year's successful, 6th-place finishing electro-hydraulic tractor, has shown me how vital and capable fluid power systems are.

*During the 2024-25 academic year, UW-Madison's International Quarter Scale Tractor Design Team received $2,000 in funding from NFPA's Fluid Power Club Program to learn about fluid power while working on educational and technical projects.

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

My goal is to become a mechanical engineer specializing in the design of heavy off-road equipment for industries such as agriculture, construction, and mining. I’m especially interested in the intersection of mechanical design and hydraulics, where I can help develop machines that are not only powerful and efficient but also sustainable. I’m drawn to roles that focus on improving the integration of hydraulic and electronic systems to create smarter, more capable equipment. Ultimately, this could mean working as a dedicated hydraulics engineer or in a broader role that combines structural, hydraulic, and electronic design.

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.