DEARBORN, Mich., November 17, 2006 – The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and PDMC Motorsports at Oakland University announced today that they will partner on a student education initiative designed to help automotive manufacturers. PDMC Motorsports is a student-based racing team from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan that recently became the first college team ever to win a professional road race in North America.

“PDMC Motorsports was designed as a test bed to help teach the systemic understanding of engineering principles needed so desperately by the Michigan automotive industry,” said Dr. Patrick E. Dessert, director of PDMC Motorsports and professor of engineering at Oakland University. “The test bed was a success, capped off by competing successfully with our professional racing team. As a result of this success we recently started work on a new systems engineering motorsports degree.”

Rodney Grover of SME Motorsports added, “We see this program as something that helps us get kids interested in technical fields that support the national manufacturing base. We are working with Dr. Dessert and Oakland University in a number of ways to disseminate this new approach to other schools and locations.”

Oakland University and 12 associated community colleges and high schools have partnered to make the Systems Engineering Motorsports program viable. PDMC Motorsports has a mission to inspire and motivate K-12 students to excel in mathematics so that they become prospective candidates for the systems engineering motorsports program.

“We have to get kids prepared earlier for a career in manufacturing,” said Dr. Dessert. “That is where the cars and students help us tell our story motivate kids to do well in school... which they do!”

In support of these types of programs, the SME Education Foundation recently announced a motorsports engineering scholarship for a student studying technology in a motor sports or performance automotive technology program. In addition, SME will host a new show on its web site entitled, “Racing Oakland.” This show focuses on the exploits of PDMC Motorsports and how racing connects with manufacturing and students. Finally, the SME logo will be featured prominently on the #84 PDMC Motorsports at Oakland University “Students First” car.

“We are glad to participate in this because it helps us grow future generations of kids interested in technical fields,” said Grover. “It’s also exciting when the #84 PDMC Motorsports at Oakland University “Students First” car goes by with its big SME logo.”

As a result of this association, SME has appointed Dr. Dessert to serve on their Motorsports Systems Education Advisory board along with such luminaries as Herb Fishel, John Fernandez, Chip Ganassi and Rollie Helmling.

About SME
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is the world’s leading professional society supporting manufacturing education. Through its member programs, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, SME influences more than half a million manufacturing practitioners and executives annually. The Society, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007, has members in more than 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of technical communities and chapters worldwide.

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact the SME Education Foundation by phone (313) 425-3300, e-mail foundation@sme.org, or Fax: (313) 425-3411