DEARBORN, Mich., — May 8, 2006 –The future is looking brighter for two aspiring manufacturing engineers. Kenneth R. Barra of Acworth, Ga., a student at Southern Polytechnic State University and Aaron M. Mader of Medford, Wis., a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, have each received the coveted 2006 Reginald W. Barrett Directors’ Scholarship. It is funded by the Boards of Directors of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the SME Education Foundation (SME-EF), and past presidents of SME.

Kenneth Barra maintains a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.94 and will graduate in May 2007 from Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Ga. with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He served as chairman of the Southern Polytechnic State University student chapter of SME, as chairman of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, and was named 2006 State of Georgia Engineering Technology Student of the Year.

Aaron Mader maintains a G.P.A. of 3.60 and will graduate in May 2007 from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wis. with a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He has served as an executive board member and speaker chair of the University of Wisconsin-Stout student chapter of SME, is a member of the UW-Stout Academic Honor Society, American Society for Quality, and has received the Chancellors Award for Academic Excellence for four semesters.

Says Sherril West, president of the SME Education Foundation and Caterpiller Inc., retired vice president, “These future engineers have proven themselves to be leaders who are diligent, involved, and enthused about mastering their areas of study. These traits are commendable and worthy of our financial support as we continue to focus our attention on building a skilled manufacturing workforce."

About the Directors’ Scholarship Award:
The Directors' Scholarship supports an undergraduate student enrolled in a college or engineering degree program in manufacturing in the United States or Canada. The recipient must have an overall minimum G.P.A. of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, have completed at least 30 college credit hours, and demonstrate leadership skills in a community, academic, or professional environment. This scholarship is funded directly from the annual contributions of the SME Board, the SME Education Foundation Board, and past presidents of SME.

Every two years the Directors' Scholarship is named after an individual who served the SME Education Foundation. The 2006-2007 Directors’ Scholarship honors Reginald W. Barrett who is a life member of SME, has contributed to the creation of the Foundation and served as its President. His fund-raising initiatives contributed to the formation of the SME-EF Board of Directors, and increasing the Foundation’s endowment to $5 million by the end of his presidency. He has a named endowment fund and is a contributor to the General Endowment Fund and Directors’ Scholarship.

About the SME Education Foundation:
The SME Education Foundation is one of the leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education through grants to colleges and universities, scholarships and fellowships, and student outreach programs. More than $19 million has been awarded in cash grants, scholarships and special awards. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) created the SME Education Foundation in 1979 as a means of identifying competency gaps and transforming manufacturing education in North American colleges and universities. Visit www.sme.org/foundation

Editors Note:
Background information, photos and news releases can be accessed on the SME Home page at www.sme.org/pressroom.

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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