The Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation (PMAEF) and the West Michigan District of PMA are excited to announce the 2022 educational scholarship recipients! These recipients have shown an interest in continuing their careers in manufacturing through enrolling in academic courses or taking part in an apprenticeship/training program.

- PMA Educational Foundation: $500

- West Michigan District: $500

- Total: $1,000

Connor's interest in the manufacturing/machining field began in high school when he was introduced to welding. He initially enrolled in the program to complete his art requirement. However, he quickly became interested in metallurgy and the processes involved. His fascination with metallurgy and the properties and uses for different materials grew, so he enrolled in the Welding Engineering program at Ferris State University. He continued to learn and become more interested in the field and aspires to one day make a difference in the manufacturing/machining world. Connor is someone who works very hard for what he's passionate about. For example, he has achieved a high school GPA of 4.2, along with a college GPA of 4.0. With that achievement, Connor made the dean's list at Ferris. He plans to uphold those same academic achievements throughout his college career. 

As a result of his hard work, accomplishments and interest, he was asked to serve as the student representative for the Midland High School welding advisory committee. Although he has moved on to his post-secondary studies, this provides him with an opportunity to impact the current high school students and their interest in the field. He can also advocate for the importance of certificates and post-secondary opportunities in these fields.  

- PMA Educational Foundation: $1,000

- West Michigan District: $1,000

- District Bonus: $1,000

- Total: $3,000

When Forrest started high school in Knoxville, TN, he had no idea what he would do as a career once he graduated. However, he knew that the dual enrollment program between his high school and Pellissippi State Community College could offer him great opportunities. Through the community college, Forrest began taking welding courses and has only become more interested and devoted to welding since then. Now, he is starting his Bachelor of Welding Engineering in the fall of 2022 at Ferris State University. He kept a GPA of  4.0 and has strong connections with his instructors and fellow students of the Pellissippi Welding Technology program. At Ferris, Forrest has been trying to get into the welding lab at least once a week while taking a 16-credit-hour load of general education courses from Fall 2021 to Spring 2022. His organizational skills help him stay comfortable in a college learning environment while taking in extra information from books, instructors, videos and conferences. 

In addition, Forrest tries to get as much weld and fabrication practice as possible. He does this by using up any extra shop time he can work into his schedule, buying books to better inform himself on areas of welding that confuse him, and talking with fellow students around the weld shop. Donating his time to his community by helping food banks, wildlife preservation and peace organizations has also played a large part in his development as a problem solver and a leader among his peers. Helping students and talking to his instructors has also led him to weigh the possibility of aiding the welding education sector as a teacher. 

Forrest has also been a part of the AWS for a year and just renewed his membership. He has found a community in the Ferris State University Formula SAE team where he deals with all things welding, from cast aluminum repairs to chromoly frame fabrication, and holds the position of treasurer. Furthermore, Forrest is an Honors student at Ferris, and this requires three cultural events and 15 hours of community service a semester. He wants to continue pursuing this career in welding as his interest and love only grow more profound for the field and the exciting problems welders and welding engineers solve.

- PMA Educational Foundation: $250

- West Michigan District: $250

- Total: $500

After saving up the money, Mitchell jumped into manufacturing, expecting to go to a four-year school, but he never got that far. His work-life trumped his college life after accepting team lead and supervisor advancements at specific jobs. The reason he’s returning to education is his peers that he was once in charge of are surpassing him as they enter the workforce with bachelor’s degrees. In addition, he’s seeing that many people with technology-based degrees in programming and engineering are getting to pick salary amounts and job placement as there is a considerable demand for them in the workforce currently. 

Mitchell has had several 10-hour OSHA classes and PFMEA classes to advance himself further, but nothing has been as in-depth as the hands-on training that LCC is and will continue to provide for him. He is looking forward to putting his scholarship toward a couple more courses in the direction of CAD/CAM, so that he can see how the world is headed in the technology direction.

- PMA Educational Foundation: $500

- West Michigan District: $500

- Total: $1,000

Nathan's interest in manufacturing came from his experience in a high school tech center class that he took. The idea of working with his hands to create something appealed to him. As a result, he has pursued a career and education in manufacturing, specifically CNC machining. Due to the impression he left on the teachers of that high school class, they recommended him for a co-op job over the summer at a local CNC machine shop, Clark Manufacturing. He liked it and was there for three years while completing his associate's in manufacturing technology at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Now, he has moved on to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, completing a degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He hopes to become a manufacturing engineer at a company that involves operation, troubleshooting, process improvement and control, and more that creates a better manufacturing environment. 

The further he gets into his program, the more he realizes he is on the right path. Nathan is constantly interested and intrigued by the different things he is learning. He has held himself to the highest standard throughout his educational and professional career, as evidenced in his academic transcript. Nathan is constantly pushing himself to continue learning in and outside the classroom. For example, he has been active in several outside memberships, such as the National Technical Honor Society during high school and Ferris Manufacturing Engineers at Ferris. In addition, Nathan is a frequent blood donor and contributes what he can for the good of the community.