The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) recently started a strategic alliance collaboration with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international not-for-profit organization aimed at increasing interest and participation in science and technology among K-12 students. The partnership will harness the similarities between the mission of FIRST and those NFPA’s workforce development to get more students aware of and interested in fluid power and engineering.

NFPA is excited to be a Strategic Alliance partner of FIRST as our members are very supportive of the FIRST mission as Mentors and competition Suppliers. We look to grow that participation and also make more students aware of the outstanding careers available in fluid power through the NFPA Robotics Challenge FIRST Scholarship,” said Eric Lanke, president and CEO of NFPA.

The partnership will not only promote FIRST programs to NFPA’s membership and education partners, but will also encourage them to become FIRST Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers to extend the reach of NFPA’s fluid power educational and career-building efforts to include FIRST students. NFPA will also offer a $40,000 merit-based scholarship to a high school senior who participates on a 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition team. The scholarship is to be used to study engineering at any accredited technical school or university in the United States.

“At FIRST, we work to broaden student exposure to a wide range of opportunities in STEM through our Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers,” said FIRST President Donald E. Bossi. “As a Strategic Alliance, NFPA will help give more FIRST students the opportunity to work side-by-side with professional engineers in the fluid power industry, while the generous NFPA Robotics Challenge FIRST Scholarship adds to the exclusive scholarship opportunities available for high school students who participate in FIRST.”