Out of the many career choices and options a STEM education provides, one NBT scholarship winner, Favour Butterfield, plans to use her degree to do some good in this world. Her desire to help others began during her childhood.

“I have grown up and seen many people struggle, even when they are doing everything right,” Favour explained. “I will be furthering my education as a mechanical engineer and this path calls for lots of designing and brainstorming, something that goes hand in hand with helping people.”

Favour Butterfield ElectroMechanical Technology at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Fortunately for Favour, moving to the U.S. from Nigeria has provided opportunities for her to pursue STEM education. In fact, beginning at the highest levels of government, STEM education access for all Americans is a priority.

“Growing up in Nigeria, I had less than the average American would. I barely knew how to use a computer because the school systems did not have the facilities, and if they did, it was minimal,” Favour said. STEM resources were also limited.

What Favour plans to do with her STEM-related degree is admirable. One of Favour’s personal goals is using her skills for the good of humanity, and she has an interesting take on tackling this endeavor. “Storage buildings can be developed into a house with the use of a robot,” Favour explained. “Imagine you want a building for whatever use. [With the use of] a robot, a company could design, lift, build, and make something unique to the individual’s taste.”

Favour elaborated, “[Americans] like everything big and glam[orous], however, I feel most people are turning away from it.” Indeed, larger homes are becoming less popular and the tiny house trend is becoming more mainstream with 56% of Americans stating they would consider living in a tiny home due to the affordability it offers.

The tiny house movement is also trending in additive manufacturing. For instance, Icon, a construction technologies company, used 3-D printing to build houses for homeless people in Texas, providing them with safe, dignified, and permanent addresses.

“[Doing] something that contributes to the good of humanity is found in every career, but it is dependent on the individual,” Favour said. That’s a rare and inspirational thought — anyone can choose to contribute to society in a positive way through their job. The NBT Foundation is proud to help Favour pursue an electro-mechanical technology degree. She later plans to pursue a mechanical engineering degree. We can’t wait to see the good she will do with her education.

The application for fall 2021 NBT scholarships is open through March 31. Learn more and apply today.