TCHS Student Receives $100,000+ Scholarship to Widener University

Marcus RundatzMarcus Rundatz, TCHS Pennock's Bridge student in the engineering and robotics program, posing in front of the KUKA robotic arm. (Submitted Image)

WEST GROVE, PA — Marcus Rundatz, a senior in the Technical College High School (TCHS) Pennock’s Bridge campus’ engineering and robotics program, has accepted a scholarship to attend Widener University. The scholarship offers $25,000 per year, for a total of $100,000, and an additional $2,000 for every year lived on campus. Marcus will begin taking classes in the fall and will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering and robotics.

Marcus is a student from the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and has attended TCHS since ninth grade. He has been interested in technology since he received his first computer around the age of three and has wanted to learn more ever since. “When I was little, I would spend my time coding video games,” Marcus said, reflecting on what sparked his interest in robotics and engineering. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in it.”

When Marcus was in ninth grade, he joined a robotics league named Flaming Phoenix in First Tech Challenge (FTC), a robotics competition for students in grades 7-12. Marcus worked with his team as the mechanical lead, and they went to worlds his first year, where they were nominated for the design award. Marcus was also a member of the TCHS STEM team, where he worked to help make gloves that allowed the hearing impaired to hear music.

“Marcus has been my student since ninth grade and has impressed me with his mechanical and mathematical skills since his first year in the program,” said Catherine Dignazio, Marcus’ engineering & robotics instructor. “As a member of Unionville’s FTC Robotics team throughout his high school career, he helped design and build robots for competitions, and he was quite successful. He undoubtedly has the talent and skills to reach his aspirations of having a successful career in robotics, and I am so proud of Marcus. I wish him all the best as he begins his study of robotics at Widener University!”

Marcus has already enrolled in classes at Widener University for the fall and is excited to complete his degree and pursue his career in the robotics and engineering field. Marcus looks back fondly on his four years at TCHS, concluding, “I’d definitely encourage people to enroll in the program because it’s really fun and the course is pretty open, so you get to do a lot of what you want to do. You will also meet some really cool people who have similar interests.”

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News.