February 2, 2021 Melissa Lamar

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Tunxis Community College has received a $10,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation aimed at scholarships for students in the college’s advanced manufacturing machine technology program, which can cover tuition, books and other supplies.

“We appreciate the support the Gene Haas Foundation has given to our growing program and students, and the additional opportunities it creates in our communities for those interested in pursuing careers in manufacturing,” said Mary Bidwell, interim dean of Advanced Manufacturing Technology at Tunxis and Asnuntuck Community Colleges.

This is the first year Tunxis has received the grant, which gives the college some added flexibility in providing additional support to machine technology students with the need- and merit-based awards.

Started three years ago, the college’s advanced manufacturing machine technology program trains students for careers in CNC and positions in machine technologies. Topics within the program include metrology, blueprint reading, geometric dimensioning & tolerancing, computer-aided design and engineering with Solidworks, quality control, and hands-on CNC projects. Students in the program can apply college credits earned to four-year degrees in manufacturing-related career technologies at other private and public universities in Connecticut. For more information on this and other Tunxis advanced manufacturing programs, visit tunxis.edu/makeit, email [email protected], or call 860.773.1755.

Founded in 1999, the Gene Haas Foundation’s primary goal is to build skills in machining by providing annual scholarships for CNC machine technology students and National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentials.

Tunxis Community College offers more than 70 associate degrees and certificates, including 10 associate degrees with manufacturing, science, engineering and technology emphases. Tunxis is also a recipient of a $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant that established the College of Technology’s Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, an NSF Center of Excellence, and one of seven National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education Centers in the United States. For more information on programs at Tunxis, call 860.773.1490, or email [email protected].

Tunxis machine technology student Ryan Tyler is shown at the program’s check presentation.