Nicole Tharp is a Manufacturing Automation student at Truckee Meadows Community College slated to graduate in the coming months with her associate degree. Nicole has received two scholarships from the SME Education Foundation, and credits that assistance as important in allowing her to focus on her studies.
A grant from the SME Education Foundation’s PRIME initiative helped Capital High School — located in Helena, Montana — purchase a new CNC plasma cutter and ironworker for the school's machining, welding and mechanical engineering programs.
The SME PRIME program at Anna High School prepares students for roles at manufacturing partner Honda of America Manufacturing with online learning manufacturing education courses like basic safety, measurement, robotics and quality control. The online learning is supplemented with hands-on training on precision measurement instruments and a FANUC robotic arm.
Pine Bush High School experienced "the highest of highs" after launching their SME PRIME Program. A day later, the school shut down due to the COVID pandemic. The school is making the most of opportunity and using their manufacturing equipment to produce face shields for frontline workers while also continuing to educate students through online courses.
Indiana County Technology Center SME PRIME students enrolled in the machining technology program learn important skills like blueprint reading, applied mathematics, safety procedures, and manual skills on milling machines, lathes, surface grinders, benches, grinders and drill presses to be better prepared to enter the workforce.
Romeo High School students gain practical experience, knowledge and skills using modern technology and equipment through SME PRIME and its partners Ford Motor Company Fund and Ford Next Generation Learning.
LINK Engineering is a key investor in the SME PRIME school program at Starkweather Academy, part of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools in Michigan.
In part 2 of our series on the SME PRIME program at The Four Cities Compact schools in Ohio you’ll read more about the passionate instructors and the energetic young minds charting their career path in the manufacturing and engineering industries.
PRIME donors receive a pool of skilled talent who have been trained – and often certified – to fill specific roles at their respective manufacturing companies, providing the investors with a direct return on their investment.
The SME Education Foundation Student Summit event series introduces high school students to the manufacturing industry at SME manufacturing and technology trade shows across the country.