Pennsylvania College of Technology students received the most scholarships in the nation from SparkForce, the charitable foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association. Penn College students – all enrolled in manufacturing-related majors – earned 13 of the 52 scholarships awarded for the Fall 2025 semester.
Students from Pennsylvania College of Technology’s School of Engineering Technologies top the nation in scholarships received from a foundation dedicated to strengthening the talent pipeline for manufacturing industries.
Penn College students earned 13 of the 52 scholarships awarded for the Fall 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.
According to SparkForce, the scholarship recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence by maintaining high GPAs and performing at the top of their class in technical and trade programs.
Since 2021, Penn College students have claimed 91 of the 383 scholarships offered by the foundation to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a certificate or degree program leading to a manufacturing career.
“We are proud to again lead the nation in SparkForce scholarship recipients,” said Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies. “The foundation has consistently recognized our exceptional students, their work ethic and the outstanding applied technology education that they receive at Penn College. Our students are coveted by industry, and they will play a pivotal role in reducing the skills gap.”
A report from the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte estimates that 3.8 million additional employees could be needed in manufacturing by 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 Valentino A. Barillaro, Shamokin Dam; Joseph D. Fuhrman, Hanover; Eric R. Hill, Lemont; Rachel S. Lamb, Beaver (also majoring in non-destructive testing); Cierra D. Miller, Dover; Alaina S. Myers, Hanover; Jaxon C. Nygard, Perkasie; Connor J. Rueck, Nesconset, New York; Zachary A. Tallman, Lewisburg; and Matthew J. Woolcock, Oil City.
Brayden A. Duong, Manheim, mechatronics technology; James T. Johnson, Manheim, manufacturing engineering technology; and Bryce A. Klunk, Hanover, welding technology, also earned scholarships.
For information on manufacturing-related degrees and other majors offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, visit www.pct.edu/et or call 570-327-4520.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.