Grants Awarded to Community and Technical Colleges Offering Summer Day Camp Experiences Focused on Manufacturing for Youth

ROCKFORD, Ill., March 1, 2016 – Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT), the foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl.® (FMA), announces the winners of its 2016 Summer Manufacturing Camp grants.

Thirty-three grants, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, for a total of $66,000, were awarded by NBT to community and technical colleges offering day camp experiences that introduce young people ages 12 to 16 to careers in manufacturing and engineering. Major sponsors of these camps are the CNA Foundation of Chicago, Kelly Services, and Disney/ABC Television.

The 2016 camp grant winners are:

• Arkansas State University – Newport – Jonesboro, Ark.
• Bergen Community College – Paramus, N.J.
• Burton Center for Arts and Technology – Salem, Va.
• Chippewa Valley Technical College*- Eau Claire, Wis.
• College of the Canyons* – Santa Clarita, Calif.
• Fairfield Central High School/Midlands Technical College – Winnsboro, S.C.
• Fox Valley Technical College*- Appleton, Wis.
• Gordon Cooper Technology Center – Shawnee, Okla.
• Henry Ford College – Dearborn, Mich.
• Hillsborough Community College (FLATE) – Tampa, Fla.
• Itawamba Community College – Belden, Miss.
• Ivy Tech Community College – Gary, Ind.
• Lake Park High School – Roselle, Ill.
• Linn Benton Community College – Albany, Ore.
• Manchester Community College* (2 grants awarded) – Manchester, N.H.
• Marshall University Research Corporation on behalf of the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing – Huntington, W. Va.
• Northeast Alabama Community College* (3 grants awarded) – Rainsville, Ala.
• Northeast Mississippi Community College – Booneville, Miss.
• Ranken Technical College* (2 grants awarded) – St Louis, Mo.
• Rend Lake College – Ina, Ill.
• Charles Community College – Cottleville, Mo.
• St James Parish Schools Career & Technology Center – Lutcher, La.
• St Petersburg College (2 grants awarded) – St Petersburg, Fla.
• Thomas Nelson Community College* – Hampton, Va.
• Triton College* – River Grove, Ill.
• Weber State University – Ogden, Utah
• White Mountains Community College – Berlin, N.H.
• Zane State College – Zanesville, Ohio

An additional eight camps were approved as Affiliate Camps – these schools do not receive NBT funding, but do receive marketing and classroom materials and T-shirts for all campers. These are long-running camps which have become self-sustaining with local support.

• Anoka Tech* – Anoka, Minn.
• Fox Valley Tech College* – Appleton, Wis.
• Harper College* (2 camps) – Palatine, Ill.
• Itawamba Community College – Belden, Miss.
• Moraine Park Tech College* – West Bend, Wis.
• Thomas Nelson Community College* (2 camps) – Hampton, Va.

*FMA Certified Education Center members

The camps target middle- and high school-aged youth, introducing them to practical applications of math, science and engineering principles and giving them opportunities to tour local manufacturing companies, work directly with technology, and design and manufacture a product they can take home. Supporting these camps with CAD/CAM student edition design software donations is Solidworks Corporation.

“The demand for highly-skilled manufacturing professionals is growing each year as more and more Baby Boomers retire — and we don’t see that demand subsiding for decades,” said Rory DeJohn, NBT immediate past chair and senior vice-president, Turner Construction. “We are focused on creating a talent pool of young people who set their sights on the many career opportunities offered in the manufacturing sector and it all starts with providing them with an introduction to the manufacturing process. Inspiring young people to consider these careers will have a positive impact on graduation rates and will create a more qualified workforce in the participating communities.”

Edward Youdell, president and CEO of FMA and NBT added, “the manufacturing skilled labor shortage won’t solve itself. These camps provide youth with exposure to vocational and technical trades that no longer is available in most public education systems. For most of the young people who attend these camps it is their first introduction to how things are made and what skills are required for entry into the world of manufacturing. They also discover that the training they will need to get started is readily available in their local community at the very college where they are attending camp.”

Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs also issues scholarships to students attending community colleges, technical colleges and trade schools to pursue training leading to careers in manufacturing. More information on NBT is available by visiting nutsandboltsfoundation.org.

About FMA and NBT

Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal processors, fabricators, and equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH^® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Sustainable Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally-friendly manufacturing. The official publications of FMA include The FABRICATOR®; TPJ -The Tube & Pipe Journal®; STAMPING Journal®; Practical Welding Today®; The FABRICATOR® en Español; and Canadian Industrial Machinery®. Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (NBT), the foundation of FMA, awards scholarships and supports summer camp programs in efforts to engage, nurture and excite individuals of all ages in the pursuit of careers in manufacturing.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or a live online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000.

About CNA

CNA is the 7th largest commercial insurer providing insurance protection to more than one million businesses and professionals around the world. The CNA Foundation concentrates its support in programs designed to meet the educational needs of children; assist and support children, youth and adults in developing vocational skills, and support economically disadvantaged children and families. Learn more at www.cna.com.

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Contact

Cindy Day
Senior Manager, Credentialing & Foundation
(815) 227-8208
cindyd@fmanet.org