SPECIAL FEATURE: Education/Training - Educational Assistance Programs

American Mold Builders Association (AMBA)-Minnesota Chapter
Employee Dependent Scholarship
Each year, one $2,000 scholarship is awarded to the dependent of an employee working for an AMBA member shop within the chapter. To be eligible, the applicant must be a high school graduate planning to attend either a two- or four-year college and his or her parent must be employed for more than one year at a member shop.

Technical Training Scholarship Award
Each year, two $1,000 scholarships are awarded to students pursuing a degree in moldmaking from an AMBA-approved technical program. The winner will receive $500 per year for up to two years. This is a great opportunity for a high school graduate who wants to pursue a career in the moldmaking industry, or any apprentice who might be working his or her way through school.

Tool Gift Certificate
Each year, six $1,000 gift certificates will be awarded to technical college graduates with a moldmaking-related degree who are pursuing a career in the industry. Upon graduation, winners will receive a $500 gift certificate from David Olson Sales that can be used to purchase tools. An additional $500 gift certificate will awarded after the winners complete their first six months of employment at a member shop.

For more information visit www.ambamn.org/education.html

The Society of Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI)
To promote education in the plastics industry, SPI's Molder and Moldmaker divisions offer financial assistance. The Molders Scholarship Foundation supports regional scholarships of up to $1,000 a year to individuals pursuing careers in the plastics molding industry. The Moldmakers Division provides support to institutions or organizations that provide specific training for plastics moldmaking.

Apprentice Training Grant Program
The Moldmakers Division of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. established this grant program in 1998, as a way of promoting and encouraging moldmaking in the U.S. Only institutions or organizations that provide specific training for moldmakers for the plastics industry are eligible; in-house training programs provided by a moldmaking business are not eligible for grant funding. Awards of up to $6,000 per applicant ($2,000 per year for three years) will be made to successful institutions or organizations. Accepted institutions or organizations will be required to submit an annual progress report to maintain funding. Re-application for refunding is permitted after three years.

For more information visit www.plasticmolds.org

Apprenticeship 2000
Apprenticeship 2000 is a four-year, European style, training program designed for high school students. It is a dual program where apprentices learn the tricks of the trade in the sponsor company and the academic background by earning a college degree. Designated and experienced trade experts within the sponsor companies teach the apprentices everything they know about the trade. Trades include mold/plastics technician, CNC machinist and tool and die maker. Apprentices will earn a manufacturing technology degree at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. Apprenticeship 2000 is earning while learning, meaning that students work in a progressive wage schedule. Every six months the students get a pay increase, as well as a bonus based on performance. This program is registered with the Department of Labor. This is a sure way to get a high-paying career.

For more information visit www.apprenticeship2000.com

Canadian Tooling and Machining Association (CTMA)
Annual Apprenticeship Competition
The competition highlights skills learned by the industry's apprentices and challenges them to demonstrate those skills. This event is open to all apprentices currently registered in a provincially recognized tooling trade (moldmaker, tool and diemaker, patternmaker, general machinist, etc.). The competition will include a common test piece for all trades and prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in the junior category (apprentices with less than 4,000 hours in their respective trade) and the senior category (apprentices with 4,000 to 8,000 hours in their respective trade). Prize levels will be subject to the level of sponsorship received.

For more information visit www.ctma.com

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Walt Bertram Memorial Education Award Fund
Established by Desert Pacific Region 12 and Chapter 119, through the SME Education Foundation, they are scholarships for high school, trade school, college or university students within Region 12 (Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California) who are pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering or a closely related field of study. All applicants should be SME members unless they are high school students. The award fund will provide awards of $500 to $1,200 to students and to institutions within Desert Pacific Region 12.

SME Education Foundation Family Scholarship
The SME Education Foundation seeks to support the children or grandchildren of SME members and to encourage their pursuit of careers in manufacturing engineering and technology. This highly competitive scholarship, made possible by the Wayne Kay Scholarship Fund, will be awarded annually to one student who has demonstrated academic excellence and an interest in manufacturing engineering or related technology. It is valued at up to $20,000 annually based on a standard academic year and may be renewed up to three times for a total four-year scholarship award, based on continuing excellent performance on the part of the recipient.

Community College Scholarship Award
The Wayne Kay Scholarship Fund, through the SME Education Foundation, supports undergraduate scholarships awarded annually to full-time students enrolled at an accredited community college, trade school or other two-year degree-granting institution that offers programs in manufacturing or a closely related field in the United States or Canada. It provides $1,000 undergraduate scholarship awards annually.

Wayne Kay High School Scholarship
Supporting scholarships to high school graduating seniors who enroll in a manufacturing engineering or technology certificate or degree program in the United States or Canada, it provides two scholarships up to $2,500 each for two years payable as follows: $1,000 for year one and renewable for $1,500 for year two, based on the recipient's academic excellence and career path.

Albert E. Wischmeyer Memorial Scholarship Award
Supporting two scholarships of at least $1,900 each, applicants must be residents of western New York State (west of Interstate 81) and graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited degree program in manufacturing engineering, manufacturing engineering technology or mechanical technology. The amount of each award will be determined by the SME Education Foundation and will be based on the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Chapter 4 Lawrence A. Wacker Memorial Award
The SME Milwuakee Chapter 4, through the SME Education Foundation, supports two scholarships. One scholarship is granted to a graduating high school senior and the second is granted to a current undergraduate student. Students must be enrolled in or accepted to a degree program in manufacturing, mechanical or industrial engineering at a college or university in the state of Wisconsin. The two scholarships are $1,500 each. Scholarship funds will be paid to the college or university that the recipient(s) is attending and will be set up in the form of a debit account to pay for tuition, books and housing.

CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Detroit Chapter One-Founding Chapter Scholarship Award
Supporting three scholarships of at least $1,000 each, applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a manufacturing engineering, manufacturing engineering technology or closely related degree or certificate program at one of the five approved schools. One award will be available in each of the following to a student member of the SME student chapters sponsored by Detroit Chapter One: associate's degree and equivalent programs, baccalaureate degree programs and graduate degree programs.

Caterpillar Scholars Awards Program
The award, sponsored by Caterpillar, Inc. through the SME Education Foundation, supports scholarships to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs in manufacturing engineering in the United States or Canada. It provides five scholarship awards of $2,000 each for undergraduate students as a one-time gift.

Arthur and Gladys Cervenka Scholarship Award
Supporting undergraduate scholarships, it annually awards full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering or technology in the state of Florida. It provides one $1,250 undergraduate scholarship award annually or as determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

SME Corporate Scholars
Supports undergraduate scholarships and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering or technology in the United States or Canada. It provides undergraduate scholarships awards varying between $1,000 and $5,000.

SME Directors' Scholarship Fund
Supports an undergraduate scholarship and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing in the United States or Canada. The Directors Scholarship Fund will provide one undergraduate scholarship award of $5,000 annually or as determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Connie and Robert T. Gunter Scholarship Award
Supporting undergraduate scholarships, it is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering or technology at an approved Georgia institution. It annually provides undergraduate scholarship awards of $1,000. The number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Clinton J. Helton Manufacturing Scholarship Award
Supports undergraduate scholarships and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering or technology at an approved Colorado institution. It provides undergraduates scholarship awards of $3,500 each. Scholarships are available annually or as determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Downriver Detroit Chapter 198 Scholarship
Supporting one scholarship, applicants must be seeking an associate's degree, bachelor's degree or graduate degree in manufacturing, mechanical or industrial engineering and engineering technology or industrial technology. It provides an undergraduate scholarship award of $1,000. Scholarships are awarded annually and the number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Fort Wayne Chapter 56 Scholarship Fund
Supporting four scholarships, applicants must be seeking an associate's degree, bachelor's degree or graduate degree in manufacturing, mechanical, or industrial engineering, engineering technology or industrial technology. It provides four undergraduate scholarship awards of $1,000. Scholarships are awarded annually and the number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Kalamazoo Chapter 116-Roscoe Douglas Scholarship Award
Supports scholarships awarded to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in manufacturing engineering or technology at an approved Michigan institution. It provides undergraduate scholarship awards of $1,500. Scholarships are awarded annually and the number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

PACAAR Scholarship Award
Sponsored by the PACAAR Foundation, it supports scholarships to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering technology or mechanical engineering technology at the University of North Texas (Denton). It provides three scholarships of $2,000 each for undergraduate students.

The scholarship can be used only as a credit toward tuition, fees or books.

Phoenix Chapter 67 Scholarship and Advised Fund
Supports one high school senior who plans to enroll in manufacturing program technology or manufacturing technology; or current undergraduate students enrolled in a manufacturing engineering technology, manufacturing technology, industrial technology or closely related program at an accredited college or university in Arizona. It provides an undergraduate scholarship award of $1,000. Scholarships are awarded annually and the number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Wayne Kay Co-op Scholarship Award
Supports undergraduate scholarships and awards annually to full-time students enrolled in a manufacturing engineering or technology co-op degree programs in the United States and Canada. It provides $2,500 undergraduate scholarship awards. Two scholarships are available annually or as determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Wayne Kay Scholarship Award
Supports undergraduate scholarships and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering or technology in the United States or Canada. It provides $2,500 undergraduate scholarship awards. Ten scholarships will be available annually or as determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

The Guiliano Mazzetti Scholarship Award
Supports undergraduate scholarships and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering or technology in the United States or Canada. It provides $1,500 undergraduate scholarship awards. Two scholarships will be available annually or as determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

St. Louis Chapter 17 Scholarship Award
Supports scholarships to full-time students who are enrolled in a degree program in manufacturing engineering, industrial technology or other manufacturing related program at one of the approved institutions. It provides undergraduate student scholarship awards for an amount to be determined by their board. Multiple scholarships of $1,000 each are available.

Myrtle and Earl Walker Scholarship Award
Supports undergraduate scholarships and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled at an accredited trade school or degree-granting institution that offers programs in manufacturing engineering or technology in the United States or Canada. It provides $1,000 undergraduate scholarship awards annually.

North Central Region 9 Scholarship
Supports one undergraduate scholarship and is awarded annually to a full-time student enrolled in a manufacturing, mechanical or industrial engineering in North Central Region 9 (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan). It provides an undergraduate scholarship award of $1,000. Scholarships are awarded annually and the number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Wichita Chapter 52 Endowment Fund
Supporting one scholarship, applicants must be seeking an associate's degree, bachelor's degree or graduate degree in manufacturing, mechanical, or industrial engineering, engineering technology, or industrial technology. It provides an undergraduate scholarship award of $1,000. Scholarships are awarded annually and the number of awards is determined by the financial growth of the endowment fund.

William E. Weisel Scholarship Award
Supports one undergraduate scholarship and is awarded annually to a full-time student enrolled in an engineering or technology program in the United States or Canada who is seeking a career in robotics or automated systems used in manufacturing, or robotics used in the medical field. It provides one undergraduate scholarship of $1,000 annually or as determined by the financial growth of this endowment fund.

Albert E. Wischmeyer Memorial Scholarship Award
Supporting two scholarships of at least $1,900 each, applicants must be residents of western New York State (west of Interstate 81) and graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited degree program in manufacturing engineering, manufacturing engineering technology or mechanical technology. The amount of each award will be determined by the SME Education Foundation and will be based on the financial growth of the endowment fund.

Chapter 4 Lawrence A. Wacker Memorial Award
The SME Milwuakee Chapter 4, through the SME Education Foundation, supports two scholarships. One scholarship is granted to a graduating high school senior and the second is granted to a current undergraduate student. Students must be enrolled in or accepted to a degree program in manufacturing, mechanical or industrial engineering at a college or university in the state of Wisconsin. The two scholarships are $1,500 each. Scholarship funds will be paid to the college or university that the recipient(s) is attending and will be set up in the form of a debit account to pay for tuition, books and housing.

Edward S. Roth Manufacturing Engineering Scholarship
Supports one annual scholarship of $2,500. This scholarship will be granted to a graduating high school senior, a current full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an accredited four-year degree program in manufacturing engineering in the United States. Scholarship funds are paid to the college or university that the recipient is attending and will be set up in the form of a debit account to pay for tuition, fees, books and housing.

GRADUATE STUDENTS
Wayne Kay Graduate Fellowship
Supports graduate fellowships and is awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in a graduate program for manufacturing engineering or industrial engineering in the United States or Canada. It provides a pool of $32,000 for fellowship awards for students in a graduate program for a master's degree or doctorate in manufacturing engineering or industrial engineering, faculty pursuing a doctorate in manufacturing engineering. The Proposal Review Committee may designate the number of awards in a range of $4,000 to $12,000 each based on the needs of the applicants.

Detroit Chapter One-Founding Chapter Scholarship Award
Supporting three scholarships of at least $1,000 each, applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a manufacturing engineering, manufacturing engineering technology or closely related degree or certificate program at one of the five approved schools. One award will be available in each of the following to a student member of the SME student chapters sponsored by Detroit Chapter One: associate's degree and equivalent programs, baccalaureate degree programs and graduate degree programs.

For more information visit www.sme.org

Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)
The SPE Foundation offers numerous scholarships to students who have demonstrated or expressed an interest in the plastics industry. They must be majoring in or taking courses that would be beneficial to a career in the plastics industry. This would include, but is not limited to, plastics engineering, polymer science, chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and industrial engineering.

General Scholarships
Ten to 12 undergraduate scholarships range up to $4,000 annually. Scholarships are awarded for one year only, but applicants may apply for a re-award for up to three additional years.

American Plastics Council (APC)/SPE Plastics Environmental Division Scholarship
One $5,000 award will be made annually in the name(s) of the corporation(s) cited as the Excellence in Plastics Impact on the Environment by the Plastics Environmental Division of SPE at their annual conference.

Composites Division/Harold Giles Scholarship
One undergraduate or graduate award of $1,000 is made annually.

Robert E. Cramer/Product Design & Development Division/Mid-Michigan Section Scholarship
One undergraduate award of $1,000 is made annually.

Robert G. Dailey/Detroit Section Scholarship
One undergraduate award of $4,000 is made annually.

Ted Neward Scholarship
One graduate or undergraduate award of $3,000 is made annually to a student who is a U.S. citizen.

Polymer Modifiers and Additives Division Scholarships
Two $4,000 undergraduate awards are made annually.

Vinyl Plastics Division Scholarship
One $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate student who is pursuing a career in the plastics industry. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in the vinyl industry, such as courses taken, research conducted or jobs held.

Extrusion Division/Lew Erwin Memorial Scholarship
One award of $2,500 is made each year to support undergraduate or graduate research in the field of polymer extrusion. Applicants must be working on a senior or master's project which the scholarship will help support. The project must be described in writing, including background, objective and proposed experiments. The recipient will be expected to furnish a final research summary report.

Fleming/Blaszcak Scholarship
Sponsored by Cal Mold Inc. and Formula Plastics, this $2,000 scholarship is available to full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or students enrolled in a graduate program. Applicants for this award must be of Mexican descent and citizens or legal residents of the United States.

Thermoforming Division Memorial Scholarships
Two $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually to graduate or undergraduate students who are pursuing a career in the plastics industry. Applicants must have experience in the thermoforming industry, such as courses taken, research conducted or jobs held.

Thermoset Division/James I. MacKenzie Memorial Scholarship
One undergraduate award of $2,000 is made annually. Applicants must have experience in the thermoset industry, such as courses taken, research conducted or jobs held.

For more information visit www.4spe.org