School News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 30 November 2017 03:49
Community College of Allegheny County student Rich Carlson received one of six 2017 PACK EXPO scholarships awarded in the U.S. and Canada in the amount of $5,000 from PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (formerly Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute).
Carlson is the only recipient from Pennsylvania and the only student majoring in mechatronics technology to receive the scholarship. The other scholarship recipients are from Conestoga College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, Clemson University and University of Wisconsin.
“I’m honored. PMMI is a very important organization within the packaging industry,” said Carlson, who is studying mechatronics technology at CCAC’s West Hills Center in Oakdale. He also received a $2,000 scholarship from the Grainger Tools for Tomorrow Scholarship program.
Carlson, 50, who holds an associate degree in electronics engineering technology, enrolled at CCAC in August 2016 to further his skills in mechatronics and gain expertise in fluid power and PLC (programmable logic controller)—skills that will help him advance in his field. He currently works for Phoenix First Response, a data acquisition and control development company, which serves the mining, tunneling and civil engineering industries.
To be considered for the PACK EXPO scholarship, students must attend a PMMI partner school, have at least one semester remaining in their college careers and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants should be majoring in engineering, packaging, processing, mechatronics, or a related field and should demonstrate financial need. For more information about CCAC’s mechatronics technology program, visit ccac.edu/Mechatronics_Technology_AS.aspx.