TMA Education Foundation invests $213,000 in local high schools
Submitted by Technology and Manufacturing Association
The Technology and Manufacturing Association continues to invest in students and local high schools through its Education Foundation. In 2018 alone, the TMA has approved nine grants to local high schools totaling $213,000.
Three of the nine checks have been presented so far. The TMA presented John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights $8,994 for a milling and a lathe machine; $32,000 to Homewood-Flossmoor High School to update its manufacturing and welding classes; and $22,000 to Cary-Grove High School for two new lathe machines.
"At the time, we had one mill collecting dust and a broken lathe in our shop. Since then, with its support, our program has developed much stronger and more purposefully designed manufacturing program," said Cary-Grove's Industrial Technology Department Head Michael Manning.
TMA Education Foundation Chairman Bob Clifford conveyed the need for manufacturing and technology training at the high school level and stressed that the skills the students learn will set them on a rewarding career path.
Due to the deepening skills gap affecting the industry across the United States, teachers and parents are encouraging the younger generation to consider a career in precision manufacturing. To meet this need, high schools are seeking help from industry leaders - and that is where the TMA Education Foundation steps in.
"With our program numbers growing to almost 200 students, we see a need to offer all of our engineering classes with manufacturing in mind," said John Hersey High School's Manufacturing and Engineering Program Coordinator Rich Hyde.
TMA's Education Foundation started in 1987 under the vision to increase awareness of manufacturing careers in high schools, promote manufacturing careers, and encourage manufacturing technology training.
TMA Education Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million in machinery, software, equipment, awards, competitions, instructors, research, credentialing and scholarships.
For information, visit www.tmaef.org.