Inspiring Stories of Students Advancing the Industry

Of all the work that the foundation’s supporters have enabled Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT) to accomplish this year, the greatest accomplishment of all has been helping so many individuals become manufacturing’s skilled workforce of tomorrow.

From students discovering their passion for manufacturing through NBT summer camps to lending a skilled hand to create astonishing structures that will leave a positive mark on the world, it is a tremendous privilege to learn about the achievements of some of NBT’s previous campers and scholarship award recipients, what they’ve done for the industry so far, and where they plan on going. Here are some of NBT’s brightest stars who have reached new heights in manufacturing this year.

Madison Martin is a profound example of the lasting impact manufacturing camps can have on career choices. Madison is a gifted welder in the making whose passion for the fabrication process began at a Tek2Go Camp at  Itawamba Community College while she was in middle school. Today, Madison is furthering her welding education at the same school where she attended the camp. Madison’s story is the epitome of what the foundation strives for, which is to encourage young people to pursue their passion in manufacturing with continued support that enables them to obtain rewarding careers in the industry.

Chad Phillips, a fall 2020 NBT scholarship winner, was part of an international effort to help create the Living Chapel, a massive architectural structure designed to be a symbol for the “ecological awakening of humanity”. Along with a team of instructors and students from the welding program at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Chad spent more than 3,500 hours building four chapel walls. Chad was responsible for measuring, cutting, and fitting over 100 pieces for the structure.

Favour Butterfield, a spring 2021 NBT scholarship winner, plans to use her electro-mechanical technology degree and skills to contribute to the good of humanity. At an early age, Favour witnessed many people around her struggle, even when they were “doing everything right”. She believes that furthering her career as a mechanical engineer involves plenty of designing and brainstorming, which to her, goes hand in hand with helping people.

Earlier this year, NBT reached out to past scholarships recipients to learn where they are in their educational or career pathways, and how the scholarship award helped them continue to develop the skill sets desperately needed by manufacturing employers today.

The generosity of NBT’s supporters is instrumental in the efforts of the foundation’s mission to inspire the next generation of skilled workers. Each year, hundreds of people and corporations volunteer their time, donate to NBT programs, and provide funding that positively impacts our mission.

From golfing to galas, silent auctions to monetary gifts, everyone who has ever participated in an NBT event has allowed the foundation’s scholarship and summer manufacturing camp programs to continue to grow and flourish, reaching over 10,600 campers since 2005 and awarding nearly 600 scholarships to students pursuing manufacturing careers since 1990.

NBT staff and board members would like to extend our immense gratitude to the many volunteers, supporters, and donors for their unwavering generosity. Because of their efforts, NBT can continue the critical work of supporting individuals in discovering their passion for manufacturing and pursuing prosperous careers in the industry.