Michigan Tech electrical engineering students Emily Daley, Rishin Patra and Katelyn Spolnicki have each earned scholarships from the Electronics Foundation.
Established by the Global Electronics Association, the Electronics Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to developing the next generation of electronics industry professionals. It connects students with industry leaders and supports STEM education through hands-on experiences, scholarships and educational resources.
Daley, a senior in electrical engineering, won both a Leadership Award and a Membership Scholarship for a total of $2,000. This past year Daley served as the Electronics Foundation Board of Directors Student Member Liaison. She plans to use the scholarship to take on more projects. “As I near the end of my collegiate career, and look into the vast electronics field, it is always great to know I have somebody in my corner,” she said.
Patra recently graduated from Michigan Tech with an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He won a $1,000 Membership Scholarship from the Electronics Foundation. “I’m very grateful for the scholarship,” he said. “This funding not only supports my education but also will help me grow open-source electronics projects and properly set up my electronics desk with the tools and components I need.”
Spolnicki, another senior in electrical engineering, won a $1,000 Membership Scholarship as well. “This support motivates me to keep working hard and reaching for my goals,” she said. “I’m thankful for this opportunity and excited to finish strong in this upcoming semester.”Daley, Patra and Spolnicki have all served as officers and are members of the IPC-Student Electronics Chapter at Michigan Tech. The chapter focuses on industry connections, plant tours, conference attendance and all other things related to the printed circuit board or electronics industries.
All three took part in the 2025 Bright Manufacturing Challenge’s final rounds at SMTA International last fall, along with teammate and third-year electrical engineering student Peter Kocour. The team earned third place in the eight-week national competition.