Meet a Fluid Power Scholarship Winner – Miles Carter

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, Miles Carter, is attending Mississippi State University. We asked Miles a few questions about winning the scholarship.

What does winning a Fluid Power Scholarship mean to you?

For me, winning this scholarship means financial peace, it means I can focus more on my academics and staying involved on campus without the lingering thought of how I'll pay for next semester's bill. Winning this scholarship means that there is  somebody out there that sees the potential I know I have and is willing to invest in my future. Winning this scholarship means I can call out of that night shift to make sure I have time to study for my Calculus exam. Winning this scholarship means I will eventually give back $2,500 to my community to continue the cycle of generosity. 

Why did you choose to learn about fluid power?

I wanted to learn about fluid power because I believe it plays a major role in the future of sustainable energy. Fluid power's ability to transmit power using renewable resources like water and biodegradable fluids makes it such a key resource in solutions for reducing our generation's environmental impact. Understanding fluid power gives me the tools needed to contribute to cleaner and more energy efficient systems in aerospace and beyond. 

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

My career aspiration is to become an aeronautical engineer focused on designing more efficient and sustainable aircraft systems. I hope to work in a fluid power role at a forward thinking company developing hydraulic or pneumatic systems for flight control or landing gear. Ultimately, I want to use my knowledge to help reduce emissions and improve the overall performance of systems within the aerospace industry.  

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.