Guided by a Mission, Powered by Dreams.

Dear Friends,

 For over 30 years, our mission of preparing the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technologists has guided the SME Education Foundation.  Encouraging students, through the Foundation’s outreach programs, to become STEM literate, STEM interested and fully aware that there are exciting, challenging and lucrative careers available in manufacturing.  Then, through the SME Education Foundation scholarship program, provide these students with the financial support necessary to achieve their educational and career dreams.

As we review 2012 and look forward to 2013, we are ever mindful of the fact that our accomplishments would not have been possible without you!  It is only because of the commitment and generosity of our individual donors, corporations, education partners and volunteers that our success has been possible.

 Here are just a few of the highlights of the Education Foundation’s 2012 accomplishments:

• PRIME, (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education), continues to create strong partnerships between organizations, businesses and exemplary schools providing a comprehensive community-based approach to manufacturing education.  Nine new schools joined the PRIME program in 2012, bringing the total to 15 across the nation. 

• PRIME schools received $195,000 in funding to help update equipment, software, encourage professional development and help establish Gateway Academy summer camps.  Twenty students received scholarships, totaling $60,000, to help them pursue their educational dreams.  In 2013, we will be adding 5 new PRIME schools and increasing PRIME scholarship funding to $150,000. 

• Over 208 students across the country received in excess of $521,000 in scholarships allowing them to continue to pursue their educational and career dreams. 

As we begin 2013, and my first term as the president of the SME Education Foundation, I am encouraged by the many accomplishments and proud of the impact the Education Foundation has had on the lives of thousands of young people across the country. Whether a middle or high school student becomes inspired to pursue an engineering career because of our youth programming; or is able to achieve their educational and career goals because of the financial assistance received through our scholarships – it is possible only because of the loyalty and support of our donors, partners and volunteers.

The New Year will bring expansion to our PRIME program, an ever-increasing number of scholarship applications and an expanded presence in the various social media outlets.

Please join with me in supporting the Foundation in 2013 as we continue to prepare the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technologists.  Thank you again for your past and continued support of the mission of the SME Education Foundation.  Your generosity, your gifts, is helping to power dreams of the future.

Sincerely,

President, SME Education Foundation - 2013