The business group has worked with the SME Education Foundation, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ philanthropic arm, to add the SME PRIME manufacturing and engineering program free of charge to more than 50 Michigan high schools. 

RAPID RIVER – the following awards/scholarships were presented at Rapid River’s Senior Awards Night.

At the summit, students got to explore tech in 3D printing, aerospace, and automotive fields. The hands-on experience gave them a clearer sense of future career possibilities - and boosted their confidence.

The SME Education Foundation announces the winners of the Bright Minds Student Summit at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing, held April 8-10 in Detroit.

Fostering the next generation of skilled professionals in advanced manufacturing and automation, FANUC America has established a $1-million FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with SME Education Foundation. This scholarship builds upon the company’s strategic investment plan to support and advance industrial automation in North America and represents a long-term commitment by FANUC America along with its Authorized System Integrators (ASI) and Education Solutions Providers (ESP).

West Islip High is one of four new schools across the country asked to participate this year in the program, known as SME Prime. To date, Navy officials said about 111 schools across 23 states have gone through the program.

Supported by $1.4 million of Congressionally Directed Spending, supported by Senator Gary Peters and Representative Jack Bergman, a $500,000 donation by the The Daniel J Kobasic Foundation and a nearly $330,000 grant for the SME PRIME program, developed by the SME Education Foundation, the expansion builds capacity to more efficiently provide students from across Delta and Schoolcraft counties with a wide range of experiences that will develop their skills and abilities to pursue the career, college and/or individual goals and opportunities of their choosing.

Rob Luce, the current vice president of SME Education Foundation, explains that SME PRIME's collaboration with local industries and manufacturers helps students better prepare for the workforce once they graduate.

Since its founding in 2011, SME PRIME® (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education), the signature program of the SME Education Foundation, has been partnering private industry with academia to build custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country.

The SME PRIME program at Waverly High School gives students hands-on experience with manufacturing skills, including robotics and CAD, at no cost to the school.

Applications are open for the SME Education Foundation Scholarship 2025. For more than 40 years, the SME Education Foundation has been a leader in supporting the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent.

Andrew Clemons talk with an attendee during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive.... Student Andrew Clemons talk with an attendee during an SME Education Foundation event Tuesday at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive.

FANUC America, a global industrial automation leader, has been named a Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press for the 13th consecutive year. This fall, FANUC America announced the establishment of the $1 million FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with SME Education Foundation.

This funding is crucial for SME PRIME schools to ensure that the momentum of manufacturing education continues. Communities and local manufacturers tell us that they see the impact of SME PRIME,” said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation.

Over 40 SME PRIME schools received financial awards from the SME Education Foundation to sustain their manufacturing programs this year. The Foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of SME, the nonprofit association dedicated to advancing manufacturing technology and fostering manufacturing and engineering talent and capabilities in North America.

The SME Education Foundation partners with Argonne, U.S. Department of Energy, and more to launch training hubs to boost battery technology jobs. The first hub will be piloted in Michigan.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has awarded approximately 1,200 certificates through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), a partner of the SME Education Foundation.

Students at the Columbia Montour Area Vocational Technical School in Columbia County share what they've been learning in their programs, using new equipment, thanks to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation. The program is designed to foster the next generation of manufacturing engineers.

The scholarship, in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation, is open to students of every gender, race, background and community.

FANUC America, a global leader in industrial automation and robotics, proudly announces the establishment of the FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation. As the largest automation scholarship in SME Education Foundation history, this initiative will foster the next generation of skilled professionals in advanced manufacturing and automation.

Fanuc America has established the Fanuc Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation. This initiative will foster the next generation of skilled professionals in advanced manufacturing and automation.

FANUC recently launched a new $1 million FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing advanced manufacturing. The scholarship, in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation, is open to students of every gender, race, background and community. Women make up about 28% and as Michigan makes a push to increase manufacturing production, women could play a vital role in the industry’s growth.

SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) students are exposed to hands-on manufacturing and engineering skills that will equip them to meet the hiring needs of local manufacturers.

As a part of its commitment to transform the world through automation, FANUC recently announced the establishment of the $1 million FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation. As the largest automation scholarship in SME Education Foundation history, this initiative will foster the next generation of skilled professionals in advanced manufacturing and automation.

FANUC America in Rochester Hills, a global leader in industrial automation and robotics, has established of the FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation.

FANUC America in Rochester Hills, a global leader in industrial automation and robotics, has established of the FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation.

SME and Stratasys announce the winners of their cosponsored 2024 Additive Manufacturing Competition, which took place as part of the 60th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, in Atlanta June 24-28.

SME announced a partnership with BlueForge Alliance (BFA), a national non-profit integrator established to reinvigorate the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. The collaboration will provide funding to support new SME PRIME schools in key defense industrial base locations.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview High School students will have access to advanced engineering and manufacturing training thanks to a grant from the SME Foundation through its PRIME program.

Lincoln High School senior Richard Brooks was recently accepted into a work-study program where he will earn an associates degree and certification as an Advanced Manufacturing Technician.

Lincoln High School students will prepare for careers that do not require four-year degrees through a new technical program focused on manufacturing.

The national competition is part of an effort to get young people interested in careers like welding.

The Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (ISD) is in the early stages of a major project to benefit its Career and Technical Education (CTE) students.

Proviso West’s advanced manufacturing teacher honored for her outstanding work in educating Proviso students about the world of possibilities that can be unleashed through the manufacturing industry with not one, but two awards.

This year, 25 students are involved and are learning everything from robotics, precision machining, 3D manufacturing and more.

Students at Gainesville, West Hall, and Flowery Branch high schools are among those who will be able to use new manufacturing technology through the SME Education Foundation.