FRCC receives funding for machining scholarships

LONGMONT — The Gene Haas Foundation has contributed $16,000 to support precision machining students at Front Range Community College. The scholarships will pay for classes to prepare machinists for jobs in the industry.

“There is a shortage of skilled machinists in Northern Colorado and nationally,” Ryan McCoy, executive director of the FRCC Foundation, said in a written statement. “This funding will help area businesses thrive and help our students make a good living. We’re grateful to the Gene Haas Foundation for this support.”

The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded $86,000 to FRCC over the past four years for machining scholarships. This year’s donation will allow the FRCC Foundation to award scholarships based on need and available funds.

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“Since 2015, this funding has helped 39 students get well-paying jobs in the industry,” said George Newman, director of FRCC’s machining program. “Some of our students already work full-time jobs, and some have families to support — which is why we offer classes at night. But there isn’t as much financial aid available for our non-credit students. So this really helps the people who need it.”

A recent report from the Deloitte professional services firm and the Manufacturing Institute forecasts that almost 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled in the United States in the next decade, but a skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled, FRCC said.

“It’s exciting to be able to assist people who are passionate about the industry,” said FRCC’s advanced manufacturing program coordinator Nicole Gervace, who helps distribute the scholarship funds. “Nothing compares to the feeling of giving people the opportunity to reach their goals.”

The precision machining program is housed in Longmont at the school’s Advanced Technology Center. Gene Haas is the owner of Haas Automation Inc., a builder of CNC (computer-numeric-controlled) machine tools. FRCC’s machining center has numerous Haas CNC machines.