Thirty-one students pursuing manufacturing careers received scholarships from Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT) for the fall 2021 semester. The scholarships will help these deserving students reach their academic goals and learn the skills needed for rewarding jobs in the manufacturing industry.

It continues to be a challenge for manufacturing employers to find skilled and motivated workers. The value these talented students will bring to the industry is crucial to the future of manufacturing.

For the fall 2021 semester, NBT awarded scholarships valued between $1,500 and $2,500 to the following students across the country:

• Jacob Beatty, Grove City, Pa., machine tool technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Mitchell Bellomy, Fackler, Ala., industrial systems technology — electrical and instrumentation at Northeast Alabama Community College
• Dylan Berguson, Jersey Shore, Pa., welding and fabrication engineering technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Luke Berkoski, Winfield, Pa., welding technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Samuel Breese, Madison, Wis., electrical engineering at Madison Area Technical College
• Stephen Britten, Clarksville, Md., mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology
• Casey Campbell, Kennerdell, Pa., engineering design technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Ryan Carlee*, McKinney, Texas, mechanical engineering at Texas Tech University
• Caleb Cochran, Eden, Wis., mechanical design technology at Moraine Park Technical College
• Jake Cooper*, Houston, Texas, mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University
• Caleb Coots, Tioga, Pa., metal fabrication technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Dakota Fathke, Rockwall, Texas, mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University
• Mikayla Feil**, Brooklyn Park, Minn., product design at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• Michael Gomez*, Edinburg, Texas, electrical engineering at University of Texas at San Antonio
• Vanessa Guzman, Melrose Park, Ill., mechanical design / welding at Triton College
• Christie Hasbrouck**, Erie, Pa., industrial and manufacturing engineering at The Pennsylvania State University
• Noah Hillis, Lufkin, Texas, mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University
• Pete Kane, Annandale, N.J., manufacturing engineering technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Kenneth Knight, Delaware, Ohio, welding engineering at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Sang Yeob Lee, Skokie, Ill., manufacturing technology at Oakton Community College
• Chethan Meda, Corning, N.Y., automated manufacturing technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Brian Mee**, Springboro, Ohio, welding engineering at The Ohio State University
• Dana Nestrick, Elmwood Park, Ill., engineering technology / mechanical design at Triton College
• Alec Rees, Centerport, N.Y., metal fabrication technology / manufacturing engineering technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Brenten Rodgers, Floyds Knobs, Ind., mechanical engineering at Trine University
• Christian Soto, San Antonio, Texas, aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University
• Sierra Strandberg, Mount Prospect, Ill., industrial technology and operations at Illinois Institute of Technology
• Jason Theodore, Williamsport, Pa., welding and fabrication engineering technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Timothy Tobias**, Caledonia, Mich., mechanical engineering at Grand Valley State University
• Maurice Van Heesch, Iron Ridge, Wis., welding at Moraine Park Technical College
• Jayna Vicary, Curwensville, Pa., welding and fabrication engineering technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology

*U.K. Gupta Family Endowed Scholarship Recipient
**John Grossheim Memorial (OPC) Scholarship Recipient

Read why these scholarship winners are pursuing manufacturing careers:

“My father works as an operator at a paper mill, and my uncle works as an electrician. Both of them not only seem well off with their financial situations, but more importantly, they both seem deeply satisfied with what they do for a living. Using this information, and some self-insight, I decided to pursue a degree in industrial electronics at Northeast Alabama Community College. Not only do I enjoy my studies so far, but I also feel like I have found my calling to work with my hands and my brain alike.”

— Mitchell Bellomy, Northeast Alabama Community College

“Living in Chicago you always see structures being built, construction sites, etc.; that always caught my eye and really amazed me that there are people with the depth of knowledge that allows them to construct such things. My mom started buying me Lego sets and tech kits that allowed me to try building things hands-on, which I enjoyed a lot. I also loved drawing as a kid, so now that I’m older, mechanical design just makes so much sense to me. As for welding, it’s all hands-on, and it’s a pleasure being able to work in the shop.”

— Vanessa Guzman, Triton College

Since 1990, NBT has awarded more than $1.1 million to 593 students who will become the next generation of highly skilled manufacturing professionals. The application for spring 2022 scholarships will be open July 1-Sept. 30, 2021. For more information, visit nbtfoundation.org/scholarships.