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America Makes Announces Winners of the America Makes-First Robotics Scholarship Competition
September 04, 2014 | Categories: America Makes News
Two High School Graduates Each Awarded $1,000 Scholarships Funded by MakerGear and Stratasys
Youngstown, Ohio — September 4, 2014. America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, with support from 3D printer manufacturers MakerGear and Stratasys, is pleased to announce the two winners of the $1,000 America Makes – FIRST® Robotics Scholarship Competition: Griffin Cerva and Brian Davenport.
Griffin, a recent graduate of Brookings Harbor (OR) High School, competed on team 4110 Deep Space Niners and contributed by building his own 3D printer the “Griffinbot”. Griffin will attend Oregon State University and major in manufacturing engineering.
Brian, a recent graduate of Hardin Valley (TN) Academy, competed on team 3824 RoHawktics and contributed by 3D printing and testing parts. Brian will attend Mercer University in Macon, Ga for mechanical engineering.
Griffin and Brian were selected as the winners of two $1,000 scholarships from approximately 40 applicants, who were required to prepare an essay, complete application forms, and submit letters of recommendation from school or industry leaders. The scholarship selection committee included individuals from America Makes, MakerGear and Stratasys.
Mike Hripko, America Makes Deputy Director for Workforce and Educational Outreach, noted that while all of the applicants submitted qualified applications, the essays submitted by Griffin and Brian were particularly noteworthy.
“Determining just two winners from the pool of outstanding scholarship applications proved difficult for the scholarship selection committee,” said Mr. Hripko. “However, in the end, our assessment process identified the applications submitted by Griffin and Brian as the most reflective of the true values of both FIRST Robotics and America Makes. We congratulate Griffin and Brian and wish them all the best as they pursue studies in engineering.”
The scholarships were funded by both MakerGear (Brecksville, OH) and Stratasys (Edina, MN). America Makes announced the scholarship competition at the 2014 FIRST® Championship held in April in St. Louis, Mo. The scholarship competition was open to graduating seniors with skills in 3D printing. In addition to providing financial support for the scholarships, both MakerGear and Stratasys also participated in the America Makes 3D Design Experience at the FIRST® Championships.
“On behalf of all of us at America Makes, we extend our appreciation to MakerGear and Stratasys for once again demonstrating their continued support of STEM education and educational outreach toward high-achieving high school students,” added Mr. Hripko. “Not only do both MakerGear and Stratasys produce outstanding products, but they each also recognize the importance of education as a vital component in accelerating the use and successful adoption of additive manufacturing/3D printing technologies.”
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About America Makes
America Makes is the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. As the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing (3DP), America Makes is the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in AM and 3DP technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation. Structured as a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, non-government agencies, and workforce and economic development resources, we are working together to innovate and accelerate AM and 3DP to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, America Makes is the first institute for up to 45 manufacturing innovation institutes to follow and is driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). For more information about America Makes, visit http://americamakes.us.