Gene Haas Foundation donates $10,000 to South Georgia Technical College Foundation

September 19, 2018
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford (r) and SGTC Precision Machining and Manufacturing Instructor Chad Brown (l) are shown above with the $10,000 donation to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. They are shown in front of one of the college’s Haas machines that students train on in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford (r) and SGTC Precision Machining and Manufacturing Instructor Chad Brown (l) are shown above with the $10,000 donation to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. They are shown in front of one of the college’s Haas machines that students train on in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program.

The Gene Haas Foundation donated $10,000 to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation recently to support scholarships and NIMS credentialing for students enrolled in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program. NIMS sets industry skills standards and seeks to empower organizations and individuals through workforce skills standards and credentials to build a thriving and globally competitive manufacturing industry.
Gene Haas founded Haas Automation, Inc. in 1983 and is currently the largest machine tool builder in the western world. Hass’ commitment to US manufacturing led to the development of his foundation that focuses on granting funds to help expand Machining and CNC Technology programs. The billion-dollar company is working to help eliminate the skills gap in U.S. Manufacturing. According to “The Skills Gap in U.S. Manufacturing 2015 and Beyond” report “over the next decade, nearly three and a half million manufacturing jobs will likely need to be filled and the skills gap is expected to result in two million of those jobs going unfilled.” His foundation focuses on providing scholarships for CNC machinist training.
“South Georgia Technical College and the South Georgia Technical Foundation are very appreciative of this grant,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “This grant will enhance our current Precision Machining and Manufacturing program in many ways, the biggest in providing scholarships for those students who are interested in this career but need financial support. It will also provide additional resources for sponsorship of our manufacturing students to compete at events such as SkillsUSA.”
South Georgia Technical College’s Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program students took first place in the Georgia SkillsUSA additive manufacturing team contest this past year. Their project involved designing and printing a 3D fixture to attach a miniature tire swing to a tree branch. Calvin Conley from Leesburg, and Jacob Grant from Andersonville were South Georgia Tech’s two state winners who qualified to compete at the SkillsUSA National Competition. Chad Brown is the SGTC Precision Machining and Manufacturing instructor.
The Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program at South Georgia Tech develops academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills that emphasizes a combination of machine tool theory and practical application. Students learn print reading, lathe operations, mill operation, CNC Fundamentals and more. Day and evening classes are available.
For more information about the South Georgia Technical College Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program contact Instructor Chad Brown at 229-931-2573 or cbrown@southgatech.edu. South Georgia Technical College is currently accepting applications for Spring Semester. Classes start on January 9th. For more information about this and the other over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit classes offered at South Georgia Technical College visit the website at www.southgatech.edu or contact the Admissions Office at 229-931-2394 in Americus or 229-271-4040 in Cordele. SGTC also offers the complete college experience with nationally ranked academics, on-campus housing, intercollegiate athletics and student clubs and organizations.
For more information about donating to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation contact SGTC Foundation Executive Director and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird at 229-931-2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu.