NIMS, the precision manufacturing industry’s premier standards and certification body, and the Gene Haas Foundation (GHF), which provides scholarships to schools for students entering technical training programs, are partnering to provide scholarship funds directly to the near-future workforce. The scholarships will be given to select SkillsUSA students, who represent some of the nation’s top young talent in precision machining and metalworking.

The 2016 GHF-NIMS SkillsUSA Scholarship Program 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) in Louisville, Kentucky 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, vice president, Haas Automation. “Building this workforce begins with providing opportunities for young people to explore careers in manufacturing and gain in-demand, 21st century skills century skills.”

“These students are the future of our industry,” said Jim Wall, executive director, 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 led by GHF and NIMS to help more students prepare for success in precision manufacturing careers by gaining industry-recognized  credentials at high schools and colleges. GHF and NIMS have provided more than $1.8 million to schools and students since the program 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.

About the Gene Haas Foundation

The Gene Haas Foundation was formed in 1999 to fund the needs of the local community and other deserving charities, at the discretion of its founder, Mr. Gene Haas. On top of the list of priorities of the Gene Haas 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 GHF supports select manufacturing education programs that inspire and educate young people about careers in manufacturing.