FRCC Foundation Receives Grant for Scholarships in Machining
Longmont, Colo. – The Front Range Community College Foundation has received a $16,000 donation for scholarships for precision machining students from the Gene Haas Foundation. The funds will be used to help aspiring machinists pay for their classes at FRCC, preparing them to move into jobs in the industry.
A Need for Machinists
“There is a shortage of skilled machinists in northern Colorado and nationally,” said Ryan McCoy, executive director of the FRCC Foundation. “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 last four years for machining scholarships. This year’s donation will allow the FRCC Foundation to award scholarships to machining students on a case-by-case basis, depending on the applicant’s need and available funds.
Helping Fill the Gap
“Since 2015, their 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 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. One goal of the Gene Haas Foundation is to introduce students to careers in machine technology and manufacturing.
“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.”
FRCC and Gene Haas Foundation
FRCC’s Precision Machining Program is housed in the Advanced Technology Center at the Boulder County Campus in Longmont. The program has more than a hundred students in its daytime for-credit program and its evening non-credit program.
Gene Haas is the owner of Haas Automation Inc., the nation’s leading builder of CNC (computer-numeric-controlled) machine tools. FRCC’s state-of-the-art machining center has numerous Haas CNC machines.
For more information regarding the machining program at FRCC’s Boulder County campus—or on scholarships in machining—contact 303-678-3794 or Nicole.gervace@frontrange.edu.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, and Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving more than 137,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. CCCS’s open access mission ensures that all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. CCCS students save time and money with affordable tuition and fees, concurrent enrollment and guaranteed transfer to any public university in Colorado. Online courses are available via Colorado Community Colleges Online. CCCS also oversees career and technical programs in its 13 colleges, more than 160 school districts and 6 other post-secondary institutions. By partnering with business and industry, CCCS helps employers meet workforce needs and prepares students for direct entry to their chosen career pathway. The vast majority of CCCS students are Colorado residents and, after graduation, 97% of CCCS students stay in state becoming the workforce that powers the Colorado economy and the heart of its neighborhoods, businesses and communities.
