The shortage of skilled workers in the electronics manufacturing is one of today’s most pressing issues. (Check out the January 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine for more on this topic.) So, it was not surprising that the topic of workforce was present at DesignCon this year as well. During the show, I spoke with Saniya Pilgaonkar, manager of SMTA membership services, who provided information on not one, but two SMTA scholarships/grants.
Marcy LaRont: Saniya, at the recent SMTA UHDI Symposium, I heard about an $8,000 student grant. Can you tell me more about it?
Saniya Pilgaonkar: Yes, of course. Charles Hutchins was a president of SMTA in the early 1990s. After he passed away, we started the Charles Hutchins Educational Grant for students in 1998. Charles was a strong advocate of SMTA and he wanted to give back to society, especially to students who were interested in the SMT line of engineering, such as electrical engineering. He had been an excellent mentor, and wanted to contribute and help them.
Last year was the grant’s 26th anniversary and at SMTAI, 10 of the past winners attended and we honored them at a reception. I can confidently say nearly all of the 26 past winners are still working in the industry.
LaRont: We are constantly talking about workforce and a potential gaping skilled labor hole in the future, especially in the manufacturing sectors. What makes a student eligible and how can they apply?
Pilgaonkar: To apply, visit the Young Professionals section at SMTA.org. Applicants will need to submit a proper research thesis, which can be something like a four-year undergraduate course or a postdoc. For 2025, applications must be submitted by April 25, and you’ll need to graduate no earlier than April 2026.
LaRont: When are the winners announced?
Pilgaonkar: The decision cycle is about two months from the final submission deadline and the winner is usually announced in August. The winner is invited to a dinner reception at SMTAI. We cover all their expenses for the trip, and it’s a big deal to attend because of the networking opportunities for these young students who get to rub elbows with some pretty important people in the industry. The mentorship is amazing. You will not typically get that level of mentorship.
LaRont: Mentorship is such an important piece to help bring young professionals up in the industry.
Pilgaonkar: Of the past 26 winners since the grant began, we have about 15 who have promised to mentor new grant winners themselves, and some of them are at big companies like Apple and GM. It’s so nice to belong to SMTA because it's a small family, and we want to look out for each other, especially the newer, younger members.
LaRont: Do you have other scholarships as well?
Pilgaonkar: Yes, we also offer the JoAnn Stromberg Student Leader Scholarship. Joann retired in 2015 after almost 30 years as the executive administrator at SMTA. The award is for $3,000, and the criteria is not as strict as with the Charles Hutchins Grant. You can be a part-time or a full-time student, and it’s not as much about research as about doing something related to the industry—maybe you are involved in an SMTA student chapter or a student club around manufacturing. It’s a benefit, but it’s not a requirement. I would encourage anyone who is applying for a grant to also apply for this scholarship because your chances of receiving it are higher.
LaRont: Those are two great programs to support young people coming up in electronics manufacturing.
Pilgaonkar: The deadline for the Stromberg Scholarship is also April 25. Our website explains everything pretty clearly and how to apply. These programs provide a nice bridge between being a student and the work we are doing in workforce development. We are here to fill that skilled worker void.
LaRont: Thank you, Saniya. Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
Pilgaonkar: Yes, please consider becoming an SMTA member. You must be a student member to apply for the scholarships. The cost is only $20, and these days, that’s barely more than a slice of pizza.
LaRont: Thank you to SMTA for supporting young people and students who want to work in technology and manufacturing.
Pilgaonkar: Thank you, Marcy.
