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Minnesota State College Southeast

Gene Haas Foundation Check
Photo Caption: Instructors Todd Ives (left) and Rick Hengel (right) and Minnesota State College Southeast CNC Machine Tool students pose with a "BIG" check from the Gene Haas Foundation in front of the college's new Haas 5-Axis CNC machine. Also pictured are Brett Carlson (3rd from left) and Hope Riska (right) of Productivity Inc and Minnesota State College Southeast President Marsha Danielson (6th from left). 

Gene Haas Foundation Awards $22,000 to Minnesota State College Southeast's CNC Machine Tool Program

Winona, MN (November 14, 2024) - Thanks to the Gene Haas Foundation, students at Minnesota State College Southeast will have increased financial support as they pursue advanced manufacturing education and training.

The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded Minnesota State College Southeast $22,000 in grants to support student scholarships and program needs. The funds will be used for the college's CNC Machine Tool program, which is based on the college's Winona campus. Since 2015, the program has received grants every year from the Gene Haas Foundation, bringing their total received to $65,000.

On Wednesday, November 6, instructors Rick Hengel and Todd Ives, President Marsha Danielson, and current students in Southeast's CNC Machine Tool program received a BIG check, delivered by Hope Riska and Brett Carlson of Productivity Inc, the local Haas Factory Outlet in Plymouth, MN.

"We are so grateful for the support of the Gene Haas Foundation," said instructor Rick Hengel. "Their annual grants help our students afford college and participate in CNC competitions." 

The group posed for a photo with the BIG check in front of the college's new Haas 5-Axis CNC machine. A student team from Southeast won the 2023 national Project MFG Advanced Manufacturing Championship, which is supported by the Gene Haas Foundation. Prize money from that event helped make the purchase and installation of the new Haas 5-Axis CNC machine possible.

At Minnesota State College Southeast, students learn basic skills in machining technology and progress to the development of advanced CNC machining and programming skills. They work with engineering drawings, CAD/CAM software, computer-controlled mills, lathes, and EDM machines.

Minnesota State College Southeast is very active with local manufacturing companies, helping to keep the talent pipeline of manufacturing going by providing graduates who are ready to work in area industry.

The mission of the Gene Haas Foundation includes support for manufacturing training programs throughout North America and beyond. By providing scholarship grants, sponsoring individual and team CNC competitions, and partnering with the very best CNC training programs in the world, the Foundation helps expand the availability of high-quality manufacturing technology training worldwide.


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About the Gene Haas Foundation

The Gene Haas Foundation's primary goal is to build skills in the manufacturing industry by providing scholarships for CNC machine technology students. For high schools, a portion of the funds may also be used to support the school's participation in student competitions such as FIRST or VEX Robotics, SkillsUSA and Supermileage programs that highlight their manufacturing programs.

The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999, by Haas Automation, Inc., Founder and CEO Gene Haas, to support the needs of the local community, through grants to such local charities as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Food Share, Rescue Mission, and others.

Seeing a growing need for skilled manufacturing employees industry-wide, the Foundation expanded its mission to include support for manufacturing training programs throughout North America and beyond. By providing scholarship grants, sponsoring individual and team CNC competitions, and partnering with the very best CNC training programs in the world, the Foundation helps expand the availability of high-quality manufacturing technology training worldwide.

The Gene Haas Foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education and the community. Since 1999, the Gene Haas Foundation has provided more than $175 million in grants and sponsorships.

About Minnesota State College Southeast

Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a community and technical college that provides a flexible, affordable, inclusive, and equitable college environment and offers a clear sense of direction to all students. College faculty and staff genuinely care about students' end goals, whether that be earning an academic award, transferring to university to complete a bachelor's degree, or attaining career skills. 

At Minnesota State College Southeast, we believe college is for everyone. We believe in meeting students where they are. We believe every step toward reaching their educational goals should be simple and achievable.

Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of the Minnesota State system.