Students pursuing careers in machining technology can access scholarships available through the SME Education Foundation, thanks to funding from the Gene Haas Foundation.

DEARBORN, Mich., March 17, 2009 — The Gene Haas Foundation has provided a $200,000 grant to the SME Education Foundation to help qualified students interested in machine operation and maintenance coursework take advantage of their Gene Haas Foundation Machining Technology Scholarship.

High school seniors, graduates or GED recipients will be eligible for the one-year Gene Haas Foundation Machining Technology Scholarship, which will range from $1,000 to $5,000 for each awarded scholarship. Applicants may access the scholarship application by clicking here (MS Word). and submitting it to the SME Education Foundation for processing.

Peter Zierhut, Director of Public Relations, Haas Automation, Inc. knows employers value the wide-ranging skills of machinists in manufacturing industries. Says Zierhut, “Manufacturers and job shops nationwide, have struggled for years to find well-trained machinists, especially those with CNC skills. We believe it is the responsibility of businesses like Haas Automation to ensure that students have the funds to attend quality training programs. The scholarships provided by the Gene Haas Foundation help make that a reality. Our long-term goal is to help ensure a good supply of highly-skilled workers.”

The scholarships complement the work being done through the Haas Technical Education Center (HTEC). Its network leverages the technologies and capabilities of Haas Automation and partners 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 June 2008, the HTEC network included 724 schools, colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

The SME Education Foundation will draw from a national network of students participating in its Gateway Academy pre-engineering programs offered at more than 3,000 middle and high schools. Its curriculum is the result of a partnership with
Project Lead The Way^®, a nonprofit organization that offers math, engineering, science and technology curriculum in middle and high school.

Says Bart Aslin, director of the SME Education Foundation, “The generous support of the Gene Haas Foundation allows the SME Education Foundation to offer Gene Haas Machining Technology Scholarships to talented students with the ultimate goal of preparing them for what we all know will be a restructured workforce.”

About the Gene Haas Foundation:

The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder and president of Haas Automation, Inc., the largest machine tool manufacturer in the United States. One of the primary goals of the Gene Haas Foundation is to provide financial assistance for students interested in manufacturing-based careers. Scholarship programs are available through career centers, technical schools, community colleges and universities.

Gene Haas recognizes the future of manufacturing in the United States is directly dependent on the availability of skilled workers. That future hinges on recruiting more students and developing quality training programs across the country. The Gene Haas Foundation funding goes directly to those training programs to attract prospective students.

About Project Lead The Way (PLTW):

Project Lead The Way^® is a not-for-profit organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle and high school students. PLTW forms partnerships with public schools, higher education institutions and the private sector to increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from our educational system. Visit www.pltw.org.

About the Gateway Academy:

The concept of the Gateway Academy was created in a partnership between the SME Education Foundation and Project Lead the Way^®, a not-for-profit organization that promotes engineering courses for middle and high school students. In 2008, the SME Education Foundation held 170 Gateway Academies and reached over 3,000 students in 25 states. Their goal is to increase to 220 Gateway Academies by 2010.

About the SME Education Foundation:

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation was created by SME in 1979 as a means of transforming manufacturing education in North American colleges and universities. As one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education, its approach is to inspire youth to pursue careers in manufacturing; support students studying for a career in an engineering-related field, and prepare these students to participate in a global economy. The Foundation has provided more than $24 million in grants, scholarships and awards. Visit www.smeef.org and its award-winning Web site for young people, www.manufacturingiscool.com.

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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