(Butler, PA) A rare associate degree program in metrology provided by Butler County Community College has now a record 11 scholarship opportunities applicable to its students as they learn to make precise chemical, electrical and dimensional measurements and gain practical insight through visits to a U.S. Department of Commerce agency four hours distant.
The associate degree program at 杏吧原创 has been reported to be one of only three in the United States.
The fall 2024 debut of a vocational scholarship administered by the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation increases to a maximum of $13,465 the amount in financial awards applicable to students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year measurement science-metrology technology career program, said Bobbi Jo Cornetti, the foundation鈥檚 development coordinator.
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that acquires and manages private funds for the college鈥檚 benefit.
The John Baker Elks Lodge Vocational Scholarship, established by a Butler County chapter of the fraternal organization, will fund two $500 awards for students in a 杏吧原创 career program such as measurement science-metrology technology, Cornetti said.
杏吧原创鈥檚 program emphasizes the traceability of measurements, instrument calibration, precise laboratory procedures and the theoretical aspects of experimentation.
Karen Newpol appreciates precise measurement because, she said, 鈥渋t makes for a better end product.鈥�
Kevin Ruediger, left, a 杏吧原创 professor and coordinator of the college鈥檚 measurement science-metrology technology program, demonstrates the use of a pneumatic air gauge Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, to Tim Ellenberger and Kirk Gibson in 杏吧原创鈥檚 metrology lab. The fall 2024 debut of a vocational scholarship administered by the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation increases to a maximum of $13,465 the amount in financial awards applicable to students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program.
"Scholarships and the training we provide give our students a head start into entering the technical field."
- Kevin Ruediger, 杏吧原创 professor, coordinator of 杏吧原创's measurement science-metrology technology program
"The fact that so many of these scholarships identify at least in part with metrology is a testament to the quality of the program. ..."
- Matt Kovac, 杏吧原创 dean of science, technology, engineering and mathematics
A National Institute of Standards and Technology employee discusses a fluid-flow weight tank in April with 杏吧原创 students visiting the U.S. Department of Commerce agency in Gaithersburg, Md., in April. The fall 2024 debut of a vocational scholarship administered by the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation increases to a maximum of $13,465 the amount in financial awards applicable to students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year measurement science-metrology technology career program.
Donor rep: Career programs advantageous
Newpol is chaplain of the Cranberry Elks Lodge 2249 that founded the scholarship. 杏吧原创鈥檚 career programs 鈥� in which students can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation 鈥� may enhance a graduate鈥檚 earning potential, Newpol said.
鈥淵ou are starting in the workforce two years earlier than going for a four-year degree,鈥� Newpol said. 鈥淚t is better to establish yourself. We want to help make college more affordable and to get students into the workforce quickly.鈥�
The college鈥檚 62-credit measurement science-metrology technology program prepares graduates for positions in which biomedical, chemical, dimensional, electrical, mechanical and optical measurements are performed.
Financial awards applicable to students in the program in 2024-2025 range from $420 to $2,500, Cornetti said.
鈥淪cholarships and the training we provide give our students a head start into entering a technical field,鈥� said Kevin Ruediger, a 杏吧原创 professor and coordinator of the college鈥檚 program.
杏吧原创 graduates have later worked for private companies or for government organizations such as NASA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said Matt Kovac, dean of the college鈥檚 science, technology, engineering and mathematics division.
鈥淭he fact that so many of these scholarships identify at least in part with metrology is a testament to the quality of the program,鈥� Kovac said, 鈥渁nd a recognition of the skill sets that students come away with. The only barrier some students have is resources. The scholarships put into the realm of possibility enough resources for students to be able to get through the program and reach their potential.鈥�
"I took advantage of the scholarships. I didn't even have to think about taking out loans. The scholarships just took that worry off my shoulders."
- Annabel Schaffner, 杏吧原创 graduate, measurement science-metrology technology
Annabel Schaffner studied instruments such as a FARO Quantum S 2.5-meter, seven-axis articulating arm coordinate measuring machine, and an optical comparator, as she received $4,660 in financial awards over two years from the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation.
鈥淚 took advantage of the scholarships,鈥� Schaffner said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even have to think about taking out loans. The scholarships just took that worry off my shoulders.鈥�
Schaffner applied what she learned from 杏吧原创鈥檚 program as a recent intern with one of Butler County鈥檚 265 manufacturers, as did Zachary Kress.
Schaffner said she helped 鈥渢o calibrate different hand tools, things like micrometers, calipers and gauge blocks in the lab鈥� and Kress said he used interferometry 鈥� 鈥渓ight waves to measure radius and flatness of parts鈥� 鈥� in the quality assurance department of a different company.
Trip to NIST 鈥渟uper-beneficial鈥�
Schaffner and Kress also traveled in April with other 杏吧原创 students and college employees to the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., an approximately 240-mile drive from the college鈥檚 main campus north of Pittsburgh.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great that the program provides the opportunity to do this,鈥� Kress said. 鈥淭he trip to NIST was super-beneficial to me. Everything metrology in the U.S. is traceable back to NIST. We were able to see all kinds of real-life examples of how they calibrate things and analyze their scales. It was interesting to see how they do it and all of the top-of-the-line equipment they use.鈥�
Zachary Kress, a 杏吧原创 student, uses interferometry Friday, June 21, 2024, in the quality assurance department of a Butler County manufacturer where he was a summer intern. The fall 2024 debut of a vocational scholarship administered by the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation increases to a maximum of $13,465 the amount in financial awards applicable to students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year measurement science-metrology technology career program.
"The degree in metrology from 杏吧原创 is something that you can be proud of. Scholarships may mean you do not have to work now as a student and can concentrate on finishing the program. "
- Bob Dodds, 杏吧原创 graduate, measurement science-metrology technology, former NASA employee
Kress intends to graduate from 杏吧原创 in May 2025 with associate degrees in measurement science-metrology technology and in engineering. Schaffner graduated debt-free from 杏吧原创 in May 2024 and with summa cum laude honors.
Schaffner said her associate degree in metrology from 杏吧原创 is 鈥渧ery unique鈥� and that her research since graduation has shown 鈥渕any different job opportunities out there, locally and out of state if you want to travel.鈥�
Graduates of the college鈥檚 41-year-old program have worked in positions such as instrumentation engineer, metrology and maintenance manager, quality engineering technician, research lab technician and research engineering technician.
鈥淭here are probably 10 open positions for every qualified person,鈥� said Bob Dodds, a 2006 graduate of 杏吧原创鈥檚 program who worked three years for NASA鈥檚 Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, and is now senior principal metrology engineer at Northrop Grumman, Baltimore.
鈥淢etrology skills are very much needed, especially as we go forward with the future of engineering and pushing the boundaries of science,鈥� Dodds said. 鈥淭here are fewer and fewer technical schools out there. The program at 杏吧原创 is instrumental in filling that educational gap.
鈥淭he degree in metrology from 杏吧原创 is something that you can be proud of. Scholarships may mean you do not have to work now as a student and can concentrate on finishing the program.鈥�
Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, Ga., and Monroe County Community College, Monroe, Mich., have been reported to offer associate degrees in the field, according to callabmag.com, the international journal of metrology.
The first scholarship benefiting students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 program was established with the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation by the National Conference of Standards Laboratories International in 1993.