The Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation (PMAEF) and the Twin Cities District of PMA are excited to announce their 2023 fall 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.
Brandon St. Hilaire – Anoka Technical College, CNC Design and Manufacturing
Scholarship Amount
– PMA Educational Foundation: $750
– Twin Cities District: $1,500
– Total: $2,250
When Brandon first learned about manufacturing, he was about ten years old and listening to his grandpa talk about work and what he did. Right then, he started finding manufacturing interesting. During high school, Brandon wanted to become an aerospace engineer and work with making parts. After high school, he started working at a machine shop and attending community college. During community college, he learned he would rather work with his hands than on a computer. After his first semester, Brandon furthered his commitment and transferred to Anoka Technical College. During his first semester, he knew it was the right decision. He is currently on the faculty honor roll and maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
Manufacturing is a passion for Brandon, being able to take a piece of metal, create a part, and understand where and how that part will be used. He has run production, worked in tool and die, and worked with some prototype work.
Brandon finds every type of manufacturing to be interesting. He is hopeful that within his CNC Design and Manufacturing program at Anoka, he will be able to design parts while at the same time making them. The PMA Twin Cities District scholarship will get him one step closer to achieving his passion.
Nathan Rekstad – Dunwoody College Of Technology, Machine Tool Technology
Scholarship Amount
– PMA Educational Foundation: $1,000
– Twin Cities District: $2,000
– Total: $3,000
Nathan’s father is a self-employed residential remodeler, so from a young age he always had opportunities to make things with his hands. As he has grew older, Nathan learned how to repair and maintain engines for cars and outdoor power equipment. He enjoyed math and physics in high school, so was attracted to a career in the STEM field. However, he didn’t want a desk job pushing papers or a mouse all day, and wanted to pursue a career where he could be a part of both designing and building things used in everyday life. Machining seemed an excellent fit for his skills and goals, as it requires precise hands-on activity and an attention to detail, and also offers opportunities for involvement in the design process, i.e., as a tool and die maker. Nathan chose to attend Dunwoody College of Technology because of its emphasis on hands-on learning and preparation for the workforce.
Nathan has always been eager to get out into the real-world and make the most of his earning potential. In high school, he took multiple CLEP and AP exams for college credit. As a result, he will not be required to take any of the generals in his program, and the funds awarded through the PMA Twin Cities scholarship will help him finish his machining program without taking out any student loans. After finishing his machining program, he sees himself obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, in industrial engineering technology, if time and funds permit.
To do this, he would take advantage of Dunwoody’s 2 + 2 program, where students take two years of night classes and turn their Associate’s degree into a Bachelor’s. This will enable him to gain more responsibility and involvement in the design of manufacturing processes.