DEARBORN, Mich., August 13, 2008 — Barton Smith, an aspiring machinist from Shelbyville, Tenn. has money for tuition after he received the first in a series of Gene Haas Foundation Machining Technology Scholarships available through the SME Education Foundation. Said Smith, “Without having the necessary technical skills my marketability is weak and this scholarship is life-changing. Paying for tuition is a challenge and your scholarship goes a long way.”

Kelly Reid, an 18 year-old high school graduate, received a scholarship to study Machine Tool Technology this fall at Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania. Reid, excited about the difference her scholarship will make said, “I went to vocational school my senior year, studied AET and wanted to continue studying engineering. Receiving the scholarship is wonderful and I am grateful to the Foundation for making it possible.”

The SME Education Foundation is offering this scholarship thanks to a grant of $160,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation. The one-year scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to high school graduates, undergraduates, or persons who hold a GED certificate.

The scholarship is specifically designed for students enrolled in a two-year program of coursework majoring in machining technology or a closely-related field of study. For those students currently not taking classes, proof of class registration in a machining program is needed. Applicants may download the Gene Haas Machining Technology Scholarship Application (MS Word) and will be notified of their status within 30 days of submission.

Said Bart Aslin, director of the SME Education Foundation, “We have awarded $39,000 in Gene Haas Foundation Machining Technology Scholarships to-date and are ready to provide money to talented and qualified students — future machinists who have serious need and want to master the fundamental skills and disciplines of machining engineering.”

Since 1998, the SME Education Foundation has provided over $3.1 million in financial aid through its various scholarship programs. The Foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors, current undergraduates and masters or doctoral degree students pursuing degrees in manufacturing and related fields at two year and four year colleges.

Says Douglas Bowman, associate professor Vincennes University, and president of the Haas Technical Education Council, “I think Gene Haas and the SME Education Foundation have hit a home run with their new Machining Technology Scholarship program! Haas Automation continues to promote machining technology education by providing CNC machines and technical support to a vast network of schools at a greatly reduced cost. Now, in addition to providing the equipment and support, they have teamed up with SME to offer scholarships so that more students will be able to benefit from these opportunities.

The timing is perfect; the biggest threat to American manufacturing today is not foreign competition, or even the rise in energy costs, but the shortage of highly skilled and innovative people entering manufacturing. This scholarship program is focused on educating our future machinists; and machining, CNC machining in particular, is at the heart of advanced manufacturing today.”

The Haas Technical Education Centers (HTEC) leverage their technologies and capabilities and partner with industry, schools and professional societies to ensure qualified learning institutes receive support and are able to provide the highest-quality manufacturing education possible. As of 2008, the HTEC network included 724 schools, colleges and universities.

About Haas Automation, Inc.

Haas Automation is the largest machine tool builder in the western world, manufacturing a complete line of CNC vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes and rotary products. The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder and president. One of the primary goals of the Gene Haas Foundation is to provide financial assistance to students interested in manufacturing-based careers. Scholarship programs are available through career centers, technical schools and community colleges and universities.

About SME Education Foundation

The SME Education Foundation is one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) created the Foundation in 1979 as a means of transforming manufacturing education in North American colleges and universities.

The Foundation works to inspire youth to pursue manufacturing engineering careers; supports students studying in engineering-related fields, and prepares students to compete in a global economy. The Foundation has provided more than $24 million in grants, scholarships and awards. Their award-winning Web site www.manufacturingiscool.com encourages young people to make a difference in the world through an engineering career and provides timely and entertaining links in manufacturing. Visit www.sme.org/foundation.

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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