Demonstrated commitment to introducing young people to manufacturing career options acknowledged 

Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT), the foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA), announced that State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), is the recipient of the 2023 Future of Industry Award. The honor, bestowed on a school or organization that has established and maintained a successful summer manufacturing camp program, was revealed during the NBT Awards Gala in Mount Prospect, Ill. 

As an NBT summer manufacturing camp host since 2021, SCF in Bradenton, Fla. has hosted a total of 13 camps focusing on STEM topics specifically designed for middle and high school students. Their campers engage in activities that include 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, drones, and virtual reality software. In 2023, SCF hosted two new NBT camps focused on careers in finishing. The finishing camps were co-branded with the Chemical Coaters Association, Int’l.’s (CCAI) Finishing Education Foundation. In addition, SCF’s Emerging Technology Camp and their Robotics and Engineering Camp were co-branded with the PMMI Foundation.  

The camp curriculum at SCF is designed to foster innovation and promote entrepreneurial ideas through hands-on experiments, fun projects, guest speakers, and tours of manufacturing plants. SCF establishes and utilizes existing relationships with local manufacturers to plan these impactful visits. Host companies are happy to open their doors, and campers are able to see facilities in their own backyards providing a better understanding of emerging technologies and the diverse job opportunities within the field. This exposure contributes to the development of highly skilled workers capable of meeting the ever-evolving technical demands of the community. 

“We are proud to present this year’s Future of Industry Award to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota for their dedication to showcasing the exciting possibilities of manufacturing in an engaging and practical manner,” said Ed Dernulc, NBT Foundation Director. “I commend SCF’s remarkable success in cultivating and leveraging partnerships with industry leaders to ensure the best outcomes for their students.”