The Gene Haas Foundation (GHF) has awarded a $40,000 grant to support the Precision Machining Technology program at North Dakota State College of Science. The funds will be used to award scholarships to current Precision Machining Technology students and students entering the program in the fall of 2023.

The Gene Haas Foundation, established in 1999 by the owner of Haas Automation, Inc., has a long partnership with NDSCS to support machining and manufacturing students. Since 2018, Precision Machining Technology program students have received $176,000 in scholarship support from the Foundation.

First-year student Jacob Roberts of Jamestown, N.D., received a GHF scholarship this fall and said the financial support took the pressure off paying for college allowing him to focus on his studies. “I love it,” he said of the Precision Machining Technology program. “I like making things to this precision. I could talk about it for hours upon hours, and I get to follow this passion into a career path.”

Students in the NDSCS Precision Machining Technology program learn about CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programming, CNC set-up and operation, production machining, mold making, die making, toolmaking and automated manufacturing. “There is high demand for skilled machinists,” said Steve Johnson, department chair of Precision Machining Technology and NDSCS Haas Technology Education Center director. “We don’t have nearly enough graduates for the number of positions available. Scholarships from the Gene Haas Foundation help attract and recruit people to pursue careers in manufacturing.” Additional information about the NDSCS Precision Machining Technology program can be found online at NDSCS.edu/Machining.

The purpose of the Gene Haas Foundation is to build skills in the machining industry by providing scholarships for CNC Machine Technology students and NIMS Credentials. The Foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education.

North Dakota State College of Science has been awarded a $500,000 naming rights grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to upgrade Precision Machining Technology program facilities. Once complete, the newly named Gene Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing will strengthen NDSCS’ capacity to attract and educate the next generation of machinists to meet growing workforce needs.

The mission of the Gene Haas Foundation is to introduce young people to careers in manufacturing and improve the pathway by providing students with resources and impactful experiences. “We strongly believe in the value of CTE education to transform lives, enhance a workforce and sustain an important industry that is fundamental to our nation,” said Kathy Looman, director of education and Gene Haas Centers naming grants. “North Dakota State College of Science has been a leader in training for careers in the manufacturing industry for many years with an excellent team of educators who embrace cutting-edge technology. NDSCS is also a leader in the education community, mentoring and supporting programs across the country to share best practices with other education programs. These are just a couple of the many reasons we have chosen NDSCS as a Gene Haas Center.”

NDSCS became one of the first Haas Technology Education Centers (HTEC) in the United States. This partnership helped NDSCS establish an advanced manufacturing learning lab with state-of-the-art equipment and connect its instructors to professional training and networking. “The College’s longstanding partnership with Haas Automation gives our students the best educational experience possible,” said Steve Johnson, department chair of Precision Machining Technology and NDSCS HTEC director. “Our students are competing with their peers at a national level and they’re winning. That speaks volumes to our faculty and our facilities.”

The grant will fund renovations to the Haas Technology Education Center in the Tech Center on NDSCS’ Wahpeton campus. In conjunction with facility updates, the grant will be used to rename the CNC lab to the Gene Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing. NDSCS President Rod Flanigan believes the relationship with the Gene Haas Foundation is critical for the sustainability of the Precision Machining Technology program. “We are grateful for their contributions, which allow us to extend the College’s impact on meeting workforce needs in this high-tech industry,” said Flanigan.

Students in the NDSCS Precision Machining Technology program learn about CNC programming, CNC set-up and operation, production machining, mold making, die making, toolmaking and automated manufacturing. Additional information about the NDSCS Precision Machining Technology program can be found online at NDSCS.edu/Machining.

The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas Automation, Inc., to support the needs of the local community through grants to local charities such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Food Share, Rescue Mission, and others.

Seeing a growing need for skilled manufacturing employees industry-wide, the Foundation expanded its mission to include support for manufacturing training programs throughout North America and beyond. By providing scholarship grants, sponsoring individual and team CNC competitions, and partnering with the very best CNC training programs in the world, the Foundation helps expand the availability of high-quality manufacturing technology training worldwide.

The Gene Haas Foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education and the community. In 2021-2022, the Gene Haas Foundation provided more than $22 million in grants, bringing the total since its inception to more than $150 million.

Students from the North Dakota State College of Science received a number of awards at the North Dakota SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, which was held at NDSCS in April. By achieving gold medals at the state level, 13 of these students qualified to compete in their respective categories at the national SkillsUSA Championships, which will be held in Louisville, Ky. in June.

The NDSCS students who received gold, silver or bronze medals at the state competition include:

NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck: Morgan Berg, Welding, Silver; Charlie Jacobson, Welding Fabrication, Gold; Tanner Klein, Motorcycle Service Technology, Gold; Summer Peterson, Culinary Arts, Gold; Kolby Wetch, Diesel Equipment Technology, Gold
Dickinson: Jakob Ohl, Automotive Service Technology, Gold
Fargo: Dylan Erdmann, CNC Turning Specialist, Bronze; Bryan Sholts, Power Equipment Technology, Gold
Granville: Chase Brodehl, Plumbing, Gold
Jamestown: Dillon Bischoff, Diesel Equipment Technology, Silver; Nate Klose, HVAC, Silver; Jason Schulte, HVAC, Bronze
Lidgerwood: Daniel Novotny, Automotive Service Technology, Bronze
Mandan: Trae Bennett, Welding Fabrication, Gold
Rolette: Tanner Anderson, Diesel Equipment Technology, Bronze
South Heart: Oliver Kelly, Plumbing, Silver
Wahpeton: Drew Bajumpaa, HVAC, Gold
Williston: Steven Fixen, Electrical Construction Wiring, Gold

MINNESOTA
Barnesville: Jalen Plath, Power Equipment Technology, Silver; Tyler Stage, Power Equipment Technology, Bronze
East Grand Forks: Nick Jundt, Welding Fabrication, Gold
Fergus Falls: Jack Jacobs, Welding, Gold
Frazee: Ryan Roble, Electrical Construction Wiring, Silver
Hallock: Carson Thorsteinson, CNC Technician, Gold
Ortonville: Travis Kellen, Welding, Bronze

MONTANA
Glendive: David Rennie, Automotive Service Technology, Silver

WISCONSIN
Durand: Mike Burda, CNC Milling Specialist, Silver

Three students from the North Dakota State College of Science earned medals at the national SkillsUSA Championships this summer.

• Tanner Klein, a Powersports Technology student from Bismarck, N.D., earned a gold medal in the Power Equipment Technology category. This contest tested student skills in all areas of this technology, including two- and four-cycle engines and the related theories that go along with them, drive trains, hydraulics, wiring schematics and customer service.
• Chandler Rheault, a Welding Technology student from Fargo, N.D., secured a silver medal in the Welding Sculpture category. Welding Sculpture contestants demonstrate their ability to develop a design and produce a welding sculpture of that design, as well as deliver a presentation regarding all aspects of the design creation.
• John Heidt, a Precision Machining Technology student from Dickinson, N.D., received a bronze medal in the CNC Turning Specialist category. In this contest, contestants are assessed on their ability to write Computer Numeric Control (CNC) turning and milling programs, interpret prints, and measure/gage parts.

The SkillsUSA Championships took place as part of the SkillsUSA 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a showcase of career and technical education students. During the week, more than 6,300 career and technical education students competed hands-on in 102 different trade, technical and leadership fields.