Peoria, IL, August 2017—Simformotion™ LLC – a leader in heavy equipment simulator development – is pleased to announce that Jacob Nohai, New York, has been awarded the 2017-2018 Cat® Simulators Scholarship. He will receive $2,000 to support his pursuit of a heavy equipment-related career.

Applications were accepted from students enrolled in an accredited heavy equipment-related program at an institution that utilizes Cat Simulators as part of their training program or curriculum. Nohai is currently enrolled in the Heavy Equipment Operations program at Alfred State College. His career focus is to one day own his own excavating and landscape business.

Jacob Nohai, Cat® Simulators Scholarship winner 2017-2018.

Nohai will be a freshman in the program. His love for heavy equipment began at a very young age and never waned. He was recommended for admittance to the college program by several of his high school advisors and instructors, including Lisa Petta, who said, “When other students were involved in sports or extracurricular, Jacob was… operating various pieces of equipment to grade a dirt bike path or… doing heavy tree removal landscaping work.” This spring he was part of a study program that planted 330 trees in a watershed on school property.

New operators have a great employment outlook. “We are hearing from more customers about the lack of skilled operators and the challenges they face trying to fill positions. They are looking to us for ideas on how to build the workforce with trained equipment operators.” said Vice President, Lara Aaron. “Awarding a scholarship is a way to support students with a dream of changing the world’s landscapes with heavy equipment.”

Simformotion has been awarding the Cat Simulators Scholarship since 2011.