Thomas Wanke was a monumental figure in fluid power, active for more than 50 years and influencing generations of fluid power engineers through his work at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, its Fluid Power Institute, and with the National Fluid Power Association. To honor his memory, and to help ensure that his positive impact on fluid power education continues to be felt, the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has been asked to administer the Thomas Wanke Legacy Fund, a dedicated funding mechanism that will support fluid power scholarships and education activities at universities throughout the United States.
Through a series of annual awards from this fund, we will be able to increase both the number of students studying fluid power, and also the quality of fluid power education in our nation’s universities – two goals clearly aligned with and ennobled by Tom’s life and legacy. In its first year, NFPA awarded the Milwaukee School of Engineering Fluid Power Club to recognize the work Tom contributed to the university throughout the years. For the 2024-25 academic year, we have dedicated Northern Illinois University (NIU) as the next university to receive this recognition. We believe NIU would be an excellent fit, as the university continues to provide invaluable opportunities for students to explore the field of fluid power. If you are interested in engaging with NIU’s Fluid Power Club or engineering students, please contact Kyla Olson at kolson@nfpa.com.
“I have had the privilege of knowing Tom Wanke for several years. I engaged in conversation with him a few months prior to his passing regarding potential collaboration opportunities. Throughout his career, he consistently dedicated his time to assisting individuals across all levels within the industry. It is a distinct honor for Northern Illinois University to receive his legacy award, which serves as a motivating force for the ongoing continuation of his legacy and contributions to the industry. Northern Illinois University (NIU) has significantly increased its engagement in fluid power activities over the past three years. The Fluid Power Club has been established, comprising 15 to 20 student members each year. This academic year marks our fourth participation in the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, an initiative that students look forward to with great enthusiasm annually.
Moreover, students have the opportunity to interact with industry partners through organized speaker sessions, which occur at least twice a year, as well as through collaboration on the Vehicle Challenge project. NIU also conducts an annual career fair facilitating networking with companies in the Rockford and Illinois regions. With the help of the NFPA and local industrial partners, we are committed to continuously enhancing our curriculum in fluid power and improving the facilities of our fluid power laboratories.”
- Dr. Ghazi Malkawi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University
Another impact of the Tom Wanke Legacy Fund is through scholarship awards. This year from the Tom Wanke Legacy Fund, three $2,000 scholarships were awarded to students pursuing fluid power education who were passionate in their academics, active in extracurricular activities, and dedicated to obtaining careers in the industry. In total, six students have received Tom Wanke Legacy Fund Scholarships.
Are you interested in volunteering on the committee that selects scholarship recipients? NFPA Members are invited to help review applications for the Fluid Power Scholarship program. Reviewers can expect to review applications in April-June 2025. NFPA’s scholarship program relies on volunteer judges from the fluid power industry. The total time commitment is approximately 6-10 hours. In 2024, volunteer judges reviewed 187 eligible applications. This cycle, we anticipate more applications from qualified and passionate students. By joining the application review committee, NFPA members have the opportunity to identify students with optimistic futures in the fluid power industry.
