March 3, 2021
The WSU Tech Foundation has received $25,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation to provide scholarships for students seeking certificates and degrees in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining operations for the 2021-2022 school year.
“Fifty-three percent of high school seniors don’t believe that they will have an opportunity to have a good job,” said Kathy Looman, Director of Education Grants at the Gene Haas Foundation. “The primary mission of the Gene Haas Foundation is to partner with schools to introduce students to career opportunities in manufacturing and to provide scholarships to students who choose training in CNC technology and/or manufacturing engineering. And in doing so give them hope for a brighter future. WSU Tech is a post-secondary program that offers great Career and Technical Education programs in many relevant technologies, and we at the Gene Haas Foundation are proud to partner with them.”
Additionally, a portion of the funds will be used to fund student registration fees for SkillsUSA, a series of career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation.
In 2019, WSU Tech students brought home medals in CNC Milling Specialist (gold and bronze), CNC Turning Specialist (silver), CNC Technician High School (gold), CNC Technician (gold, silver and bronze), Precision Machining Technology (silver for College and silver for high school), and Automated Manufacturing Technology (gold) from the SkillsUSA state competition. Of those students that qualified for the SkillsUSA national competition, awards included fourth place in CNC Milling, fifth place in CNC Technician, and bronze in Automated Manufacturing Technologies. WSU Tech had twenty-one machining students registered to compete in the 2020 SkillsUSA state competition, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19.
“We are incredibly grateful to have received this grant from the Gene Haas Foundation once again this year,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, President of WSU Tech. “Manufacturing is an exceptional and critical career pathway program at WSU Tech for the Wichita region. Scholarships for students in the CNC Machining program will ensure a steady and well-trained talent pipeline for industry.”
Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 and on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible students can learn more and apply at www.WSUTECH.edu/payingforcollege/scholarships.
