The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has been instrumental in the SME PRIME schools’ program in two Southeast Michigan communities. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has distributed more than $1 billion through more than 67,000 grants to nonprofit organizations.
The career and technical education opportunities at Cazenovia High School through SME PRIME are both forward-thinking and very current. The foundations are built early on as even elementary school-age students take part in summer camps and introductory technology programs at the school.
Ford NGL partnered with the SME Education Foundation through a Ford Motor Company Fund investment to develop an SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) curriculum at Romeo High School in Romeo, Michigan.
The pre-engineering students at Grand Haven High School get a wealth of experience from the SME PRIME program through technical training and tailored curriculum informed by local manufacturing partner Shape Corp.
Industry 4.0 ushered in new technologies, new products and new ways of working. It's imperative that high schools keep pace with the skills they teach students to prepare them for the manufacturing workforce. SME PRIME schools give manufacturing students a head start, as they inspire them to use and test the skills they learn in the classroom during regular class projects as well as occasional special assignments.
Perception issues cause plentiful, high-paying jobs — including manufacturing jobs — that require shorter, less-expensive training, to remain unfilled. Programs like SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) aim to address skilled trade shortages by offering tailored curriculum and hands-on training with modern equipment.
SME Education Foundation Blog Posts SME Education Foundation Blog Read blog posts on news, updates and viewpoints from the SME Education Foundation, our Student Summit event series, SME PRIME