Alexandria, VA – September 22, 2026 – The MPMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Motion + Power Manufacturers Alliance (MPMA), today announced the recipients of its 2026 Scholarship Program. Eighteen students from universities and colleges across the country will receive awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 in recognition of their academic achievement and commitment to careers in the gear and bearing industries. This year’s program drew the highest number of applications in the Foundation’s history, underscoring growing interest among students pursuing careers in the mechanical power transmission field.
The MPMA Foundation’s scholarship program supports students at every stage of their education — from students in technical schools, or those pursuing engineering degrees, to those working on research PhDs — with many recipients already gaining hands-on industry experience through co-ops and internships with MPMA member companies.
“What stood out most this year was how many applicants came from our own member companies,” said Mary Ellen Doran, VP of Emerging Tech at MPMA. “We saw more juniors and seniors currently interning at MPMA member companies apply than ever before, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see so many of this year’s winners directly tied to the companies that make up our industry.”
2026 Scholarship Recipients
Graduate Students
- Carlos Alexio Domingues, Senior/Master’s student, University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)
- Derek Mayon, Master’s student, Rice University (Houston, TX)
Juniors & Seniors
- Carson Bacheller, Senior, Clemson University | Dodge Industrial
- Yatharth Bajaj, Senior, University of Cincinnati | JTEKT
- Luke Bohnert, Junior, Northern Illinois University | Caterpillar
- Travis Concon, Junior, Oregon State University | Star Cutter
- Keith Eicholtz, Junior, Penn State University |Gear Research Institute
- Nolan Finfrock, Senior, Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) | Schafer Industries
- Samir Hasan, Senior, The Ohio State University |Timken – recipient of the Tedric A. Harris Bearing Industry Scholarship.
- Caleb Kerfoot, Senior, Michigan Technological University |Star Cutter
- Tyler Odgers, Junior, Clemson University | Dodge Industrial
- Matthew Temkin, Senior, Rochester Institute of Technology |Schaeffler
- Alexander Davis Valieri, Junior, Clemson University | JTEKT
- Adam Weightman, Junior, Iowa State University | Forest City Gear
- Landen Wiggins, Junior, Purdue University | Schafer Gear Works — recipient of the Bipin & Linda Doshi Scholarship
Sophomores
- Jacob Milz, Georgia Institute of Technology — returning 2025 recipient
- Tyler Self, Tidewater Community College | Sumitomo
Freshmen
Mariena Warnick, Schoolcraft College | Star Cutter
About the MPMA Foundation
The MPMA Foundation is the charitable arm of the Motion + Power Manufacturers Alliance (MPMA), a voluntary association of companies, consultants, and academic institutions engaged in the design, manufacture, and application of gears, bearings, couplings, and related power transmission components.
Formed through the 2025 alignment of the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA), MPMA represents more than 400 member companies worldwide. Through scholarships, grants, and workforce support, the Foundation works to build the next generation of skilled professionals for the industry.