It was a standout 2025-26 NFPA Fluid Power Action Challenge (FPAC) season. Eleven known community wide events were held, serving 273 teams (1,083 students). Seven events were hosted by members, including two new additions hosted by EOH-Hydraquip Inc. (HCC Texas Hub) and Permco, Inc. (Tri-C Ohio Hub). Season highlights follow below.
• Team and student counts increased 15% (compared to the 2024-25 season) thanks to the new events and growth at existing challenges
• EOH – Hydraquip, Inc. and our Texas Fast Track Hub, Houston City College, held their first FPAC
• Permco, Inc. and our Ohio Fast Track Hub, Cuyahoga Community College, held their first FPAC
• 71 teams (265 students) competed in the Price Engineering and WCTC (Wisconsin Hub) event
• After eleven seasons, FORCE America and Alexandria Technical College (MN) helped over 600 students learn about fluid power
• After thirteen seasons, Deltrol Fluid Products helped over 1,900 Illinois students learn about fluid power
• QCC sponsored Ridgewood Community High School’s (IL) event for its feeder middle schools
• Unique and fun fluid Power Machine video
Members, thank you for investing your time, talent, and resources to help students across the country explore fluid power through the Action Challenge. Your support makes a meaningful difference to parents, educators, and students, as proven by the testimonials below.
Parent:
“As a parent, I appreciated that my son was able to tell me more about hydraulics and understand the basic mechanisms behind them. He identified ways hydraulic and pneumatic concepts could be applied toward his goal of moving an object from point A to B, and he considered the time needed to reach that goal. Excellent skill-building activity. My son’s response to this activity: ‘Why can’t we do this all year?’—a testament that not only did he learn concepts, but he enjoyed doing it.”
Educators:
“The Fluid Power Challenge is a meaningful, team-based experience for our 8th grade students. It not only builds engineering skills, but also develops the teamwork, creativity, and other soft skills they need as they enter high school—and ultimately become functioning members of society. Team-based challenges like the Fluid Power Action Challenge put ownership of learning in students’ hands, stretching their problem-solving skills and creativity in ways they don’t often experience in a traditional classroom setting.”
“I greatly appreciated the mentors’ help and feedback—especially in the classroom setting—because students received actionable advice they could use to make the adjustments needed to improve their machines.
"We look forward to the NFPA Fluid Power Action Challenge every year! We have a dedicated following group of students that always seek out extra-curricular opportunities to challenge themselves. Our students stay after school 4 days a week during the competition to design, build, and test their prototypes. Not all days lead to an improvement, but all days lead to powerful hands-on learning!
“Through projects such as this, students gain valuable technical knowledge while developing the collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills needed for future careers in engineering, manufacturing, robotics, and aerospace industries.”
“We are so proud of our six teams for showing us that brilliance isn't just about what you can read in a book, but it is also found in what you can create with a visionary mind and a pair of busy hands.”
Students:
“This process was challenging because it made me actually think instead of just following what the teacher said.”
“I loved being able to work with a team and being able to come up with ideas that we all thought of.”
"This project taught me that engineering takes patience. We had to redesign several times before everything worked, but it felt great when we finally completed the challenge."
“I like most the challenge day, it was fun to see all the schools competing and starting from sticks of wood and making it into a machine.
“I enjoyed learning how to use the different tools for the project.”
Members, thank you again for a standout 2025–26 season. I look forward to collaborating in the 2026–27 season. In the meantime, please contact me (jfoster@nfpa.com) with questions or to host, sponsor, or volunteer at a Fluid Power Action Challenge.