SME Education Foundation Expands Manufacturing and Engineering Opportunities to 15K Additional Michigan Students
18 Abril 2024 - 9:52AM
More Michigan students will have access to new advanced
manufacturing technology and training through the SME Education
Foundation’s SME PRIME® program, due to an expansion of the
public-private partnership between the Foundation and the State of
Michigan to bolster the state’s manufacturing talent pipeline.
SME PRIME’s expansion to 16 new high schools brings the number
of SME PRIME® schools in Michigan to 50, casting a wide net of
exposure and access for youth to relevant hands-on manufacturing
and engineering educational experiences.
Currently, there are over 620,000 manufacturing positions
unfilled in the United States. This shortage is projected to grow
to 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030. SME PRIME helps address this
critical shortage by providing schools with tailored project-based
learning programs that meet the needs of local manufacturers.
“SME PRIME paves the way for students to develop specialized
skills in advanced manufacturing and puts them on a career path to
make a livable wage right here in Michigan,” said SME Education
Foundation Vice President Rob Luce. “We thank the state of Michigan
for their partnership and trust in us to inspire, prepare, and
support the next generation of manufacturing and engineering
talent.
Informed by private industry, SME PRIME (Partnership Response In
Manufacturing Education) builds custom manufacturing and
engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing
equipment, curriculum, teacher training, student scholarships, and
funding for extracurricular activities and program sustainability.
SME PRIME is tailored to meet the needs of local manufacturers and
is aligned with 40 industry recognized credentials and
certifications. SME PRIME is located in 110 schools across 23
states, serving 10,000 students, and 91% of SME PRIME seniors
pursue manufacturing post-graduation.
The 16 additional Michigan schools introducing SME PRIME to
their students this year include:
- Caledonia High School, Caledonia
- COOR Advanced Technical Innovation Center, Roscommon
- Davison High School, Davison
- Delata Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, Escanaba
- Holt High School, Holt
- INVEST Roosevelt, Hazel Park
- Kearsley High School, Flint
- Kelloggsville High School, Wyoming
- Lakeview High School, Saint Clair Shores
- Lincoln Senior High School, Ypsilanti
- Marshall High School, Marshall
- Northwest Education Services Career Tech Center, Traverse
City
- Owosso High School, Owosso
- Saline High School, Saline
- Waverly Senior High School, Lansing
- Ypsilanti Community High School, Ypsilanti
"No matter who you are, where you come from or what community
you’re in, it’s important to have the tools to prepare you for your
career and that is what SME PRIME ensures,” said Michigan Speaker
of the House, Joe Tate. “The legislature is proud to support the
State of Michigan’s manufacturing community and future
leaders.”
The SME Education Foundation works closely with the Michigan
Manufacturers Association (MMA) to facilitate manufacturer
participation in the assessment of local workforce needs and
subsequently, the development of SME PRIME curriculum.
“This expansion of the SME PRIME program benefits Michigan
manufacturers,” said John Walsh, President and CEO of the MMA. “Our
manufacturing partners need ambitious, creative, and prepared young
people ready to join the advanced manufacturing workforce. We are
proud to advocate for our manufacturing partners – and to be a key
contributor to expanding SME PRIME in Michigan.”
About SME PRIME
SME PRIME® partners private industry with academia to build
custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools
across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, teacher
training, student scholarships, and funding for extra-curricular
activities and program sustainability. SME PRIME is tailored to
meet the needs of local manufacturers and is aligned with over 40
industry recognized certifications. SME PRIME is located in 110
schools across 23 states, serving 10,000 students, and 91% of PRIME
seniors pursue manufacturing post-graduation.
About the SME Education Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of SME, the SME Education Foundation
inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of
manufacturing and engineering talent. Established in 1979, the
Foundation works to expose youth to modern manufacturing
technologies, train students on relevant manufacturing processes,
and award millions of dollars in scholarships annually. All
Foundation programming seeks to empower youth to consider and
pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering and increase
engagement with historically underrepresented populations to help
diversify the manufacturing industry. We continue to inspire,
prepare and support the next generation of manufacturing and
engineering talent – now as many as 12,000 students every year.
Visit smeef.org and follow the SME Education Foundation
on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About SME
Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents
the entire North American manufacturing industry, including
manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the
communities in which they operate. We believe manufacturing holds
the key to economic growth and prosperity, and champion the
industry's potential as a diverse, thriving, and valued ecosystem.
SME accelerates new technology adoption and builds North America’s
talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing and drive
competitiveness, resiliency, and national security. SME designs new
ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance
the next wave of growth in manufacturing. Learn more at
SME.org.
NOTE: High-resolution images of Rob Luce,
b-roll, and selected images from current SME PRIME schools are
available from SME.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99eb0a53-eea8-4fc1-b939-1d416ff66ff4
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0b23e510-89a9-4f7b-ad6e-f2f974c1c69d
Media Contacts:
Marirose Sartoretto
Communications Specialist, SME
Msartoretto@sme.org
Tel. +1 248.798.2961