The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded Meridian Technology Center a $10,000 scholarship for students enrolled in the school’s evening Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Machining Operations and Programming short courses.

Gene Haas is the owner of Haas Automation, a builder of CNC machine tools. In 1999 Haas started the foundation after recognizing the skills gap that existed in the manufacturing industry. Since then, the foundation has provided scholarships for CNC machine technology students across the U.S. and Canada, as well as scholarships for credentials through the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

Jeremiah Reschke, a Sales Engineer for the Haas Factory Outlet, visited Meridian to present the scholarship.

“The Haas Foundation is proud to award Meridian $10,000,” Reschke said during the presentation. “We know these funds will help put students to work in the machining industry.”

This is the second time that Meridian has received the scholarship. Last year, funds allowed seven students to complete the evening CNC Programming with little-to-no out-of-pocket expenses.

Meridian offers short courses in CNC Operations, CNC Programming, Machining Print Reading and Gauging, and Benchwork, Layout and Manual Machine. Short courses meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights. New classes start monthly. Course length will vary. Visit meridiantech.edu/catalog for complete descriptions and dates.

Adult students in evening short courses that are CNC-related can apply for the Gene Haas Foundation scholarship. Scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books, setting up the student’s personal NIMS account, NIMS certifications and tools required for the course. For information regarding the Gene Haas machining scholarship, contact Titus Lester at titusl@meridiantech.edu or (405) 377-3333.