Penn College students top nation in manufacturing scholarships
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Students from Pennsylvania College of Technology’s School of Engineering Technologies lead the nation in scholarships bestowed by a foundation devoted to skilled manufacturing careers.
Penn College students earned 11 of the 59 scholarships awarded for the Spring 2025 semester by SparkForce. Previously known as Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, SparkForce is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, the premier educational association for the metal processing, forming and fabricating industries.
Since 2021, Penn College students have claimed 78 of the 331 scholarships offered by the foundation to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a certificate or degree program leading to a manufacturing career.
Pennsylvania College of Technology students earned 11 of the 59 scholarships awarded for the Spring 2025 semester by SparkForce, the charitable foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.
“We are thrilled to once again have more recipients of these national manufacturing scholarships than any other school,” said Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies. “The number of scholarship recipients reflects the outstanding attributes of our students and the exceptional applied technology education that they receive at Penn College. There is tremendous demand from industry for our graduates, who will play an important role in shrinking the skills gap.”
According to a report from the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, as many as 3.8 million additional employees could be needed in manufacturing between now and 2033, and nearly 2 million of those jobs could go unfilled if manufacturers fail to address the skills and applicant gaps.
Penn College SparkForce scholarship recipients are welding & fabrication engineering technology students Daniel A. Castro, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Joey D. Fuhrman, Hanover; Mason J. DiGiacomo, Zionsville; Rachael S. Lamb, Beaver; Ella V. Meckley, Williamsport; Cierra D. Miller, Dover; Cameron J. Quinn, Chesterfield, New Jersey; and Matthew J. Woolcock, Oil City.
Other recipients are Clayton J. Fegley, McClure, and Bryce A. Klunk, Hanover, both welding technology; and James T. Johnson, Manheim, manufacturing engineering technology.
For information on manufacturing-related degrees and other majors offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222 for more information.