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The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to support the Precision Machining Technology department at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). The funds will be used to award scholarships to current and future NDSCS Precision Machining Technology students. Dave Chase, a representative from Productivity Inc., visited NDSCS to present the check on behalf of the Gene Haas Foundation.

This substantial grant follows a $36,000 grant NDSCS received from the Gene Haas Foundation in the fall of 2022, which resulted in scholarships for 11 Precision Machining Technology students.

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. In 2022, the Gene Haas Foundation provided more than $27 million in grants to high school and post-secondary programs in the United States. The Gene Haas Foundation was founded in 1999 by Gene Haas, the owner of Haas Automation, Inc., America’s leading builder of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools.

The Precision Machining Technology program at NDSCS equips students with essential skills in 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.

This significant grant from the Gene Haas Foundation represents a major investment in the education and training of future machinists at NDSCS. It is a testament to the foundation's commitment to supporting the development of highly skilled professionals in the machining industry.

For more information about the Gene Haas Foundation, please visit https://ghaasfoundation.org.

Photo Caption: NDSCS Precision Machining Technology students, faculty and administrators were on hand when Dave Chase, Productivity, Inc. Machine Tool Sales Representative, visited the department to present a check for $50,000.

The Gene Haas Foundation (GHF) has awarded a $36,000 grant to support the Precision Machining Technology department at the North Dakota State College of Science. The funds will be used to award scholarships to current and future NDSCS Precision Machining Technology students. Representatives from Productivity, Inc. visited to present the check on behalf of the Gene Haas Foundation. 

An additional $18,000 was received as a result of the North Dakota 1:2 Challenge Grant - that will be awarded to incoming students ($2,000 each to 9 students) in the fall of 2022. 

This year's grant follows a tradition of giving from the Gene Haas Foundation. From 2018-2020, the Gene Haas Foundation has awarded $100,000 with 64 students benefiting from these scholarships. 

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 Gene Haas Foundation was founded in 1999 by Gene Haas, the owner of Haas Automation, Inc., America's leading builder of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools. 

NDSCS became one of the first Haas Technology Education Center's (HTEC) in the United States. The Gene Haas Foundation has consistently provided scholarships to NDSCS for over 10 years. Interim President Harvey Link says, "This is a result of excellent teaching, dedication to the industry and company partnerships."

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.

North Dakota State College of Science students recently earned top honors at the national SkillsUSA Championships.

Ryan Iverson, a Precision Machining Technology student from Grand Forks, N.D., earned a gold medal in the CNC Milling Specialist category. The CNC Milling Specialist contest evaluates preparation for employment in Computer Numeric Control Milling by assessing the ability to write CNC milling programs, interpret prints and measure/gage parts.

Ethan Fettig of Bismarck, N.D., and Chantel Hamann of Moorhead, Minn. each secured a bronze medal at the competition. Fettig, a Diesel Technology student, earned a bronze medal in the Diesel Equipment Technology category while Hamann, a Powersports Technology student, earned a bronze medal in the Power Equipment Technology category.

The SkillsUSA Championships were held in Louisville, Ky., in June during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. More than 6,000 students competed for national recognition in the 52nd annual SkillsUSA Championships in 100 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as electronics, precision machining, public speaking and culinary arts. Contests tested competencies set by industry, and were run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations.