Payton Caris – Pennsylvania College of Technology, Automated Manufacturing Technology 

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

-    Mid-Atlantic District: $1,500
-    PMA Educational Foundation: $750
-    Total: $2,250

Payton is a hands-on and highly motivated student pursuing a degree in manufacturing and machining at Pennsylvania College of Technology. His passion for working with tools and materials began at an early age when his grandfather gave him a real toolset at just three years old. Since then, he has developed a deep interest in metalworking, machining, and high-tech manufacturing processes. 

Payton excelled in the Applied Mechanical Engineering Program at the Career and Technology Center in Westminster, Maryland, earning both program certification and a NIMS credential in 2023. Now in his second year of college, he continues to sharpen his technical skills in areas such as CAD, CNC machining, and EDM. 

He has gained valuable industry experience through a summer job at a local machine and tool company, where he helped manufacture metal components and was involved in various stages of the production process. He is currently pursuing another opportunity with a larger manufacturing company in Frederick, Maryland, to further expand his hands-on learning. 

After graduation, Payton hopes to join the workforce at a company that will challenge him and help him grow as a machinist. His long-term goals include advancing into management, starting his own business, and eventually teaching others in the field. With a strong foundation in machining and a passion for innovation and problem-solving, Payton is eager to contribute to the future of automated manufacturing.