NIMS and Haas Foundation Announce Manufacturing Scholarships

The National Institute of Metal Working Skills, Inc. (NIMS; Fairfax, VA), the precision manufacturing industry’s premier standards and certification body, and the Gene Haas Foundation (GHF; Oxnard CA), which provides scholarships to schools for students entering technical training programs, are partnering to provide scholarship funds directly to the near-future workforce. These scholarships will be given to select SkillsUSA, Inc. (Leesburg, VA) students that represent some of the nation’s top young talent in precision machining and metalworking.

They will award over $200,000 in scholarship funds to students competing in three manufacturing events at the 52nd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) to be held in Louisville, KY, June 20-24, 2016. Competitors include high school and college students from all 50 states who have won their state-level competitions in CNC Technician, CNC Milling Specialist and CNC Turning Specialist. Upon their arrival at NLSC, they will be eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship award recognizing their success. Medalists at each of the three competitions at each level will receive awards in the following amounts — Gold: $4,000; Silver: $3,000; and Bronze: $2,000.

“Recruiting and training a high-quality workforce is critical to sustaining and growing manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Peter Zierhut, the vice president of Haas Automation.  “Building this workforce begins with providing opportunities for young people to explore careers in manufacturing and gain in-demand, 21st century skills.”

“These students are the future of our industry,” added Jim Wall, the executive director of NIMS. “Their skills, experiences, and work ethic will enable our industry to innovate and compete in the global marketplace.” The GHF-NIMS SkillsUSA Scholarship Program is part of a larger partnership to help more students prepare for success in precision manufacturing careers by gaining industry-recognized credentials at high schools and colleges. The program has provided more than $1.8 million to schools and students since it was launched in 2014. As a result, more education programs are providing high-quality training and more individuals are gaining the skills and credentials they need for success in the workplace.

NIMS is the developer of quality competency-based skills standards and credentials for jobs in manufacturing and related industries. Through these efforts, they help build and maintain a globally competitive workforce.

The GHF was formed in 1999 to fund the needs of the local community and other deserving charities, at the discretion of its founder, Gene Haas. On top of the list of priorities of the foundation is scholarship funding for students to attend colleges that teach machining-based skills, as well as training for the instructors to teach CNC machining. Additionally, they support select manufacturing education programs that inspire and educate young people about careers in manufacturing.

www.nimsready.org, www.ghaasfoundation.org, www.skillsusa.org