NWTC receives $500,000 from Gene Haas Foundation to bolster manufacturing education

Danielle DuClos, Green Bay Press-Gazette
·2 min read
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College President Kristen Raney and Kathy Looman, the director of education grants at the Gene Haas Foundation, pose with a $500,000 check from the foundation to NWTC on September 28, 2023 in Green Bay.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College President Kristen Raney and Kathy Looman, the director of education grants at the Gene Haas Foundation, pose with a $500,000 check from the foundation to NWTC on September 28, 2023 in Green Bay.

GREEN BAY — Northeast Wisconsin Technical College received $500,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation to improve access to its manufacturing programs through scholarships and academic coaching.

In honor of one of the college's largest donations in its 111-year history, it renamed its machine tool lab as the Gene Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The Gene Haas Foundation was created by Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas Automation Inc.

The money will provide scholarships for students, equipment and recruitment with the ultimate goal of removing barriers that prevent students from starting and completing their education.

"We also know that having a pipeline between NWTC and area manufacturers doesn't necessarily guarantee that everyone has access to the pipeline," said NWTC president Kristen Raney. "There are barriers that often keep college out of reach for students — barriers like tuition, like childcare, like how to balance the competing needs of being a student (and) a parent."

For example, first year students in the manufacturing program have to purchase a tool set that's over $700. The donation will cover the cost of those tools for students, which will help remove some financial burdens, instructor Chase Clover said.

More on NWTC: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College names new president, first female to lead college in its 111-year history.

This year's success story is that no first-year manufacturing students have dropped out of the program, according to Clover.

"Usually by this time we would've had four or five students drop, so we're really excited about how we're being able to retain the students coming into this program."

NWTC hopes this funding will strengthen the talent pipeline, filling the high demand among employers, Raney said.

Every week, employers reach out to NWTC asking if they have students who can fill open positions, according to Clover. There are about 50 students in both the college's technical manufacturing programs right now.

"We have the capacity. We have room to grow and that's what we're hoping this will feed," he said.

Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: NWTC receives $500,000 from Gene Haas Foundation to bolster manufacturing education