World Campus grad raises age benchmark for students

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tom Scapillato never told anyone in his courses how old he was because he didn’t want that to change his experience. He wanted the quality of his work to be the reason he stood out from the crowd. At 81 years young, Scapillato said he relishes setting the benchmark for Penn State World Campus as its most senior graduate ever.

“But to me, age is just a number, it really doesn’t mean anything,” he said. 

Scapillato is among the students who graduated from Penn State on Aug. 12 during the University’s summer commencement exercises. Scapillato, of Cicero, Illinois, earned a master’s degree in additive manufacturing and design, but he isn’t stopping there. 

Wanting to learn more about engineering 

Scapillato has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and worked in the real estate industry. About seven years ago, he wanted to learn more about Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining, which uses software to automate the control and operation of machines. 

“At the time I went to college, there weren’t computers running machines," he said. "It was done manually with very skilled operators.” 

Scapillato ended up working at Wright College in Illinois, where he started a Maker Lab, installing several 3D printers, laser engravers and CNC routers. He said he was fascinated with the ability to design and print with machinery and wanted to learn more.

“I knew that was the growth in manufacturing allowing for increased complexity at lower material needs and possible cost,” he said.

When the college lab physically shut down in spring 2020 due to the pandemic, Scapillato found himself bored at home, still with that insatiable need for learning. After completing a seminar in additive manufacturing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he searched for additional courses focusing on that industry. 

This time, Scapillato found the Penn State World Campus online additive manufacturing program, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Engineering, in the top 10 on a rankings list. In the fall of 2020, he began a course to work toward a graduate certificate in additive manufacturing and design. The following spring, he enrolled in the master of engineering in additive manufacturing and design program.

An online engineering education

The master’s degree in additive manufacturing and design program aims to teach students the fundamentals of additive manufacturing processes and skills in metal additive design from start to finish, priming graduates to be leaders in the fast-growing 3D-printing industry. 

The program is 30 credits and helps engineers become well-versed in technical, analytical and communication skills. The coursework culminates in a creative project and research for students to build their portfolios. The master’s program has been a successful part of Penn State World Campus for six years, according Allison Beese, director of the additive manufacturing and design graduate program. 

Beese and assistant director Jaclyn Stimely said it was a pleasure to personally and professionally get to know Scapillato during the program. 

“We are very proud of Tom and his academic accomplishments," they said. "His hard work, dedication and sustained thirst for knowledge will serve as an inspiration to the program's students, faculty and staff."

Age is nothing but a number 

“For me, going back to school was many years after I got my degree. It was just discovering new technology that led me to where I am today,” Scapillato said. 

He said staying active — whether through hobbies or structured academic learning — is key to longevity. 

“I’ve never considered retiring," he said. "To me in a sense, retiring is doing nothing. I believe you’re always learning and you’re always experiencing, whether in a formal education environment or in a career or life itself.” 

Scapillato did not consider his age in his educational pursuits. 

“I never talked about it,” he said. “To me, my age doesn’t matter. I see value in education at any age and want to continue to contribute to the greater good. I have the knowledge, credentials and experience to share with others at any age.”

Furthering his education 

When Scapillato starts a project, he said he sees it through to the best of his capability. 

“I’m not satisfied with finishing an assignment and submitting it," he said. "I want the assignment to be totally correct. I want to have the satisfaction that I did the best I could do, no matter how much time it took.” 

He credited his father for instilling his academic work ethic and said his dad is the voice in his head pushing him to do better. 

Even though he’s checked off his master’s degree, Scapillato isn’t finished with his education. He said he hopes to start in the doctor of engineering degree program online through Penn State World Campus next year. 

Scapillato said he encourages anyone who is considering pursuing a degree online to give it a chance. 

“It doesn’t matter how long it takes," he said. "Do it with your time constraints. Take one course a semester or maybe a summer, but look at it as a journey that you will ultimately complete."

Learn more about the master of engineering in additive manufacturing and design program offered online through Penn State World Campus in partnership with the Penn State College of Engineering.