The WMIA Scholarship Foundation awarded $15,000 scholarships in 2009 to eight students seeking careers in wood technology, machinery and related fields.
These talented students were selected based on academic success, interests and special abilities. This year's recipients are:
Kevin Bowman
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS
Kevin got interested in woodworking at a young age helping his dad on the farm, 4-H projects and eventually, high school shop class.
Kevin followed his interest in woodworking to Pittsburg State University where he has one more semester to complete a degree in Wood Technology with an emphasis in Wood Product Manufacturing. He is currently the president of the student organization, The Society of Architectural Woodwokers (SAW Club).
Ashley Harvey
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS
Ashley is a junior at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, majoring in Wood Technology with an emphasis in Wood Product Manufacturing. Ashley became a member of the student organization,
The Society of Architectural Workers (SAW Club) in her freshman year and plans to do an internship next summer. Ashley would like to pursue a career in the wood products manufacturing industry. She is looking forward to her future in the wood industry and is very pleased with the education she is receiving.
Leaha Harrison
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Leaha is currently majoring in the Industrial and Systems Engineering program with an emphasis in Furniture Manufacturing with a minor in Statistics at North Carolina State University. Leaha throws the javelin on the NC State's Track and Field team and is a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Students of Furniture Academia and Sigma Alpha Pi.
Leaha's future plans include utilizing skills learned through her employment with NCSU's Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center. She has recently designed a SolidWorks model of the GSA load head for the center's third generation furniture testing facility. Leaha plans on specializing in the design and fabrication of custom furniture. Leaha also plans on attending graduate school and getting a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering. She looks forward to the ever-changing dynamics brought on by globalization to the furniture manufacturing industry.
Tyler M. Hillyard
University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, OH
Tyler just received his Associates Degree in Fine Woodworking from Rio Grande Community College and plans to continue his education towards obtaining a Bachelor's Degree. Tyler's choice of a career came easy to him. Growing up the son of a building contractor, Tyler always had an interest in working with his hands.
He was fortunate to have the tools available to allow him to transform his interest into a career choice. Tyler is currently working for Creative Cabinets, Ltd., whose motto is - "If you can draw it, we can build it". Tyler likes that motto and appreciates the opportunities Creative Cabinets has provided him.
Amanda Joynt
Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park, MN
Amanda is a junior at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Amanda is working towards an Associate's Degree in Applied Sciences for Cabinetmaking. Her plans include continuing her education and obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Operation Management.
Christopher Placke
University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, OH
Christopher recently received his Associate's Degree in Fine Woodworking and his plans include continuing his education to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Woodworking. Christopher's interest in woodworking stems from his early childhood when his parents owned a woodworking business in North Carolina - they taught him all they knew about woodworking.
In high school, Christopher took two years of woodworking where he learned the basics of using machinery and finishing, building a cedar chest, nightstand and three shelves. In his first year in college, Christopher built two shaker nightstands, three shelves and a bookcase. In his second year, he built a Pennsylvania Secretary Desk. Christopher currently has a full-time job during the summer and part-time during the school year at Timber Creek Custom Cabinetry. His long-term goal is to have is own woodworking business.
Dan Roethle
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Dan's interest in "building things" started when he was a child watching and later helping his dad around the house and farm. A neighbor later introduced him to wood turning which led Dan to enrolling in his high school's woodworking courses. His high school shop teacher encouraged Dan's interest in woodworking and got him involved in WoodLINKS. Through WoodLINKS, Dan discovered the Wood Science and Forest Products program at Virginia Tech.
At Virginia Tech, Dan has taken an interest in the many new and exciting composite wood materials being developed. Always thinking green, Dan hopes that these new products will allow wood to replace more energy intensive materials.
Scott Vasey
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS
Scott is entering his junior year at Pittsburg State University (PSU) where he is working on his Bachelor's Degree in Wood Technology with an emphasis in Wood Product Manufacturing. At Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, NE, Scott took woodworking classes and earned recognition and awards at the 2006 WoodLINKS/IWF Competition in Atlanta, Georgia and the 2007 AWFS Fresh Woods Student Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Scott is currently vice president of the student organization The Society of Architectural Woodworkers (SAW Club). In his sophomore year, Scott was a Lab Assistant in the Wood Technology Program at PSU. He is currently taking classes during the summer working on designing and engineering personal projects. An honor that Scott is very appreciative of is receiving the WMIA scholarship for three years in a row.
