Grants provided to boost manufacturing’s appeal to students

CNC Software, developers of Mastercam CAD/CAM software, is one of the two initial underwriters of Purdue University's MSTEM3 Grant Initiative, aimed at changing youngsters' perception of manufacturing through EduFactor, Edge Factor’s high-impact multimedia resource.

CNC Software has underwritten $50,000 to help increase the number of schools that can take advantage of the grant. The Gene Haas Foundation has contributed $250,000.

Because of the grant, upper elementary and high schools can qualify for EduFactor's suite of products for as little as $99 per year.

"We have been a supporter and believer in Edge Factor's productions since they started making exciting films featuring compelling, true stories about manufacturing four years ago," CNC Software operations manager Meghan West said in a statement. "It's with great pleasure that we back this grant to help broaden the reach of EduFactor's well-executed resources to relay the engaging reality of today's manufacturing environments and skill requirements to students, teachers, and parents.

“Industry needs to continually attract people to manufacturing's interesting and well-paid careers to sustain this vital economic sector. Unfortunately, manufacturing is misperceived by many in America. Just watching one Edge Factor presentation can begin to really change that."

The grant is available on a first-come, first-served basis to schools that apply at www.mstem3.org and qualify.