MU Awarded $5,000 for Manufacturing Technology Scholarships

The department of Applied Engineering, Safety and Technology at Millersville University was recently granted $5,000 by the Gene Haas Foundation.  

Dr. Alex Johnson, an assistant professor at the University, applied for the funding. Dr. Len Litowitz, the AEST department chair, explains that the University’s programs related to manufacturing engineering technology helped secure the grant.  

“The scholarships are awarded by the department to students majoring in qualifying degree programs such as manufacturing engineering technology or those interested in teaching about manufacturing technology in K-12 schools,” says Litowitz. “There is no application process.” 

As per the award letter, half of the funding will be applied to student scholarships, with the other half applied to supporting AEST-related clubs.  

Litowitz adds that the department is planning on using part of the funds to enter a Baja buggy competition sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers in the future. In this competition, University students would design and craft an off-road vehicle that would be put to the test in various terrains, utilizing hands-on manufacturing and building experience, along with teamwork and communication.  

The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 after Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, Inc., saw a growing need for skilled manufacturing employees. The foundation provides scholarships and funds to improve manufacturing training worldwide.  

“We have received similar funding from the Gene Haas foundation in the past, but not within the last couple of years during the pandemic, so we are thrilled to have this funding back again,” Litowitz concludes. “We would like to thank the Gene Haas Foundation for their generous support of our programs.”   

– By: Mary Miller, Millersville News, November 15, 2022

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