1 minute read
Preparing industry talent
from SME IMPACT REPORT
by SME
Through SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education), the Foundation partners with private industry and academia to build custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, professional development for educators, scholarships for students, and funding for extracurricular activities and program sustainability.
SME PRIME is tailored to meet the needs of local manufacturers and is aligned with over 30 industryrecognized certifications. To date, SME PRIME is in 81 schools across 22 states, serving 8,000 students.
As of 2022, 91% of PRIME seniors pursue manufacturing post-high school — either through a manufacturing-related degree or by directly entering the workforce.
Building the next generation through philanthropy
Since 2005, the SME Education Foundation has awarded more than $18 million in scholarships to over 5,000 high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Support for these awards comes from the Education Foundation itself, along with individual and corporate donors. With a single application, each student earns consideration for all applicable Foundation awards.
In 2022, the Education Foundation awarded a record 317 scholarships totaling $738,130. As part of the Foundation’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, new scholarship programs have been created to help increase the number of underrepresented youth pursuing manufacturing and/or engineering educational opportunities. Since 2020, female applications and awards have doubled, minority applications and awards have tripled, and minority female applications and awards have nearly quadrupled.
The SME Education Foundation has also undertaken efforts to increase the impact of its scholarship program by increasing award amounts, incorporating need-based criterion and transitioning from one-time awards to multiyear renewing awards.
Building the next generation with corporate support
All Foundation programming benefits from the support of individual and corporate donors. From nonprofit organizations and multinational corporations to small- and medium-sized businesses and philanthropic-minded individuals, our donors help make the future possible through their support.
