Gene Haas Foundation Invests $1 Million in WSU Tech’s National Center for Aviation Training Expansion

Gift will support construction and create new hands-on exploration space for future manufacturing careers

WICHITA, Kan. – Aug. 11, 2026 – The WSU Tech Foundation has received a $1 million gift from the Gene Haas Foundation to support the expansion of Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology’s (WSU Tech) National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) and create a new space designed to introduce young students to careers in advanced manufacturing.

The gift will support construction of the 85,500-square-foot NCAT Expansion, which will add classrooms, laboratories and hands-on training environments designed to increase WSU Tech’s capacity to prepare students for high-demand careers in aviation and advanced manufacturing. The expansion is expected to increase NCAT’s annual training capacity by approximately 1,450 students.

In recognition of the gift, a new hands-on learning and career exploration space within the expansion will be named the Gene Haas Ideation and Exploration Hub. The purpose-built environment will primarily introduce elementary and middle school students to manufacturing, engineering and STEM concepts through hands-on, project-based learning.

Programming in the Hub will build on WSU Tech’s existing youth outreach initiatives, including summer camps, Middle School Days, mobile learning experiences and school partnerships. By creating a dedicated space for early career exploration, WSU Tech will be able to more intentionally connect students to future educational opportunities and careers in CNC machining, advanced manufacturing and related technical fields.

“The Gene Haas Foundation is committed to building the pipeline of skilled individuals needed to sustain and grow American manufacturing,” said Kathy Looman, Executive Director of the Gene Haas Foundation. “WSU Tech has demonstrated a strong commitment to CNC education, industry partnerships and creating opportunities for students to discover rewarding careers in manufacturing. We are proud to build on our partnership and help introduce even more students to the possibilities available in advanced manufacturing.”

The gift represents the next chapter in a longstanding partnership between the Gene Haas Foundation and WSU Tech. Previous Foundation support helped establish the Gene Haas Innovation Lab at NCAT, a 6,500-square-foot, industry-grade CNC training environment where students gain hands-on experience in multi-axis machining, automation, robotics, smart manufacturing and precision metrology.

“The Gene Haas Foundation believed in WSU Tech’s vision for CNC education years ago, and the impact of that investment can be seen every day in our students, our faculty and the industry partners we serve,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, President of WSU Tech. “This $1 million gift allows us to build on that success by reaching students even earlier. When young people can see themselves in manufacturing, engineering and technical careers before they are asked to choose a career pathway, we begin building the workforce our region will need for generations to come.”

WSU Tech has offered CNC machining and manufacturing training since 1964 and today operates a comprehensive Machining Technology program serving both high school and adult learners. In 2025, 375 students enrolled in machining courses at WSU Tech, with more than 100 students completing the program annually. Students train on industry-grade Haas CNC equipment and earn industry-recognized credentials while preparing for careers in aerospace, precision machining and advanced manufacturing.

WSU Tech also serves as a regional training hub for America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), a national initiative focused on strengthening U.S. manufacturing through CNC machining and metrology training. The partnership expands access to advanced manufacturing education and connects WSU Tech to a national effort to grow the country’s skilled manufacturing workforce.

The NCAT Expansion is supported by the WSU Tech Foundation’s Accelerate. Innovate. Aviate. Capital Campaign, an $8 million philanthropic effort supporting the facility and its advanced training environments. The Gene Haas Foundation’s $1 million gift represents a significant commitment to the project and will directly support construction of the expansion.

Construction is underway, and the new facility is scheduled to welcome students in January 2027. For the latest updates on the NCAT Expansion, visit: www.WSUTECH.edu/NCATexpansion.

 

About the Gene Haas Foundation

The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas Automation, Inc., to support manufacturing education and help address the growing need for skilled manufacturing professionals. The Foundation provides scholarships and grants to schools and educational programs that prepare students for careers in CNC machining and advanced manufacturing.

About the WSU Tech Foundation

The WSU Tech Foundation advances the mission of WSU Tech by connecting students, programs and institutional priorities with philanthropic investment. Through scholarships, program support, capital projects and industry partnerships, the Foundation helps expand access to technical education and strengthen the workforce in Wichita and across the region.

About WSU Tech

As Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, WSU Tech stands at the forefront of modern technical education in Kansas, offering over 100 degree and certificate options. These programs cover critical fields such as aviation, health care, manufacturing, design, information technology, police science, culinary arts, business, and more. WSU Tech operates four campuses and serves as the managing partner of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, KS—a city known for its high concentration of STEM jobs.

In 2018, Wichita State University, Kansas’ urban public research university, affiliated with WSU Tech, enhancing the institution’s student-centered focus and aligning with Wichita State’s dedication to innovation and applied learning. This partnership has created a comprehensive educational environment that supports student achievement and meets the evolving needs of industries in the urban heart of Kansas and beyond.

Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and as a Kansas Board of Regents institution, WSU Tech upholds high academic standards and equips students with the skills necessary for lifelong success and career readiness.

For more information on how WSU Tech shapes the future of technical education and contributes to the workforce in Kansas and beyond, please visit www.WSUTECH.edu. Follow WSU Tech on social media: Facebook| LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | X (Twitter) | TikTok