CNC Machining Program receives Haas Foundation grant
The Haas Foundation presents staff from Northeast Tech with a $10,000 grant award check. Pictured are (left to right) Daniel Patterson, Sales Engineer for Timco Machine Tools, Shawn Christian, Northeast Tech CNC Machining instructor and Rick Reimer, Northeast Tech’s Claremore Campus director.
Northeast Tech’s Claremore Campus was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to improve its CNC machining program. The grant funds are part of a partnership to provide schools and training centers with cutting-edge educational materials to inspire students and provide pathways to advanced manufacturing careers.
“The Gene Haas Foundation is supportive of schools that train in manufacturing,” said Johnnie Austin, Sales Engineer for Timco Machine Tools. “If you go into just about any shop across nation, you will see Haas equipment. That’s largely because of their commitment to education. The company offers free training to educators as well as discounts on equipment for schools.”
Timco Machine Tools is the Oklahoma dealer for Haas equipment, and on the day of the check presentation, Austin was joined by Sales Engineer Daniel Patterson and Northeast Tech staff members.
“This is the second year in a row we’ve received a Haas Grant,” said Rick Reimer, Northeast Tech Claremore Campus Director. “The grant funds cannot be used to purchase Haas equipment, so we are planning to use the bulk of it for student scholarships. Some of the money will also be spent retooling our machines and making sure our curriculum is keeping pace with employer needs.”
“We also hope to start offering NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) training next year,” added CNC Machining Instructor Shawn Christian. “Using some of this money to fund that will be a huge help to our students.”
Northeast Tech’s training options are a great fit for anyone interested in acquiring skills that would make them marketable to work in the manufacturing industry. Students are trained on simulators, lathes, mills, a metal cutting bandsaw, measurement and calibration tools, drill presses, a Haas CNC vertical lathe and a Haas CNC vertical mill. Additionally, as of last year, Claremore’s CNC Machining program is officially FANUC-certified, which helps make students highly-marketable in the workforce.
“We currently only offer this as a full-time, day-time program,” said Christian. “But we will soon be offering some evening classes for industry training as well.”
Northeast Tech’s Claremore Campus has successfully trained numerous students during its eight years in operation. The CNC Machining program – formerly called Computer-Aided Manufacturing – boasted a 100% placement rate last year, meaning every student who completed the program either immediately began working as a machinist or went on to continue their education.
About the Gene Haas Foundation
Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation, Inc., founded the Gene Haas Foundation in 1999. Haas Automation is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. Started in 1983, the now-billion-dollar company and its owner have a commitment to the importance of US manufacturing with a focus on manufacturing education, scholarships for CNC machinist training and helping technical programs that teach these skills grow and expand.
About Northeast Technology Center
Northeast Technology Center’s campuses are located in Afton, Kansas, Pryor and Claremore. Through its full-time daytime classes, short-term evening classes, and its business and industry services and training, NTC serves well over 34,000 patrons per year. For more information on any of the classes or training programs available, visit NTC’s website at www.netech.edu or call (918) 825-7040.
