The Sun and News, Saturday, July 10, 2021/ Page 7CHS grad gets manufacturing scholarship
Greg Chandler
Staff Writer
A Caledonia High School
graduate recently received a
scholarship from a nation-
wide program that seeks to
encourage students to pursue
careers in manufacturing.
Timothy Tobias, who
graduated from CHS in
2016, was awarded the John
Grossheim Memorial
Scholarship from Nuts, Bolts
and Thingamajigs, the foun-
dation of the Fabricators and
Manufacturers Association,
International. Tobias plans to
use the $2,500 scholarship
toward his studies at Grand
Valley State University in
Allendale.
Tobias was one of 31 stu-
dents who received scholar-
ships through the nationwide
program, association spokes-
woman Dana Brown said.
“I gained a real affinity forengineering upon taking the
engineering electives at
Caledonia High School,”
Tobias wrote in an email to
the Sun and News. “After
graduation, I headed to
Grand Rapids Community
College for an associate
degree in mechanical design,
where I advanced my skills
in [computer-aided design],
technical problem-solving,
and collaboration.”
Tobias works as a tool
designer at MEC in Byron
Center while simultaneously
pursuing his bachelor’s
degree in mechanical engi-
neering at GVSU. He expects
to finish his degree in 2023.
“This scholarship from
NBT will help me to achieve
my goal of graduating by the
age of 25 with no student
debt,” Tobias wrote.
Eligible applicants for the
NBT scholarship programare full-time students who
meet a specified minimum
grade point average and are
enrolled in a manufactur-
ing-related course of study,
engineering curriculum, or a
skilled trade program lead-
ing to a career in manufac-
turing. Students are responsi-
ble for submitting academic
records and a manufactur-
ing-related program descrip-
tion with each application.
“The most difficult jobs to
fill today are those in the
skilled trades and engineer-
ing,” NBT President Edward
Youdell said in a news
release. “With majors in
machine tool technology,
industrial and manufacturing
engineering, mechanical
engineering, metal fabrica-
tion technology, and welding
and fabrication engineering,
these students will be pre-
pared for the skilled laboropenings that American
manufacturers must fill.”
In addition to the scholar-
ship, each winner will
receive a complimentary
one-year FMA student mem-
bership and, from NBT’s
industry partner SolidWorks
Corporation, a 365-day
license to its Student Design
Kit CAD software package.
When not working or
studying, Tobias enjoys play-
ing and recording music,
making Neapolitan pizza,
skateboarding and reading
classic books.“While I enjoy designing
and improving tooling to
enhance both part quality
and the efficiency of our
associates, I also aspire to
work in the aerospace or
defense industry or for
Disney as an Imagineer,” he
wrote.
Founded in 1970, FMA is
a professional organization
with more than 2,500 mem-
bers working together to
improve the metal process-
ing, forming and fabricating
industry.
Since 1990, NBT hasawarded over 590 scholar-
ships valued at more than
$1.1 million to students
enrolled in courses of study
that will lead to careers in
manufacturing. Scholarships
are awarded twice each year
for the fall and spring semes-
ters. The application is open
July 1-Sept. 30 for spring
awards and Jan. 1-March 31
for fall awards. More infor-
mation can be found at nbt-
foundation.org/Scholarships.Jacob Johnson controls the fire hose on Thornapple
Township Fire-Rescue Engine 51 along Railroad Street in
Middleville Sunday as his father Joe Johnson looks on.
Youth jumped in, laughed at and ran from the spray as
they tried to beat the heat during the 4th of July celebration
in downtown Middleville. (Photo by Brett Bremer)
A three for $15 elephant ear family special goes out
the window of the wagon in Middleville Sunday evening.
An elephant ear wagon, live music, youth activities and
more were there for those who gathered on the AYSO
soccer fields in the lead-up to the annual 4th of July
Fireworks. (Photo by Brett Bremer)July 4th fun in the sun
Youth bat around a nine-foot beach ball near the
Thornapple Kellogg Middle School as they await the 4th
of July Fireworks in Middleville Sunday evening. (Photo
by Brett Bremer)