On December 5th, the Gene Haas Foundation, represented by Mark Harris of Allendale Machinery, presented a $12,000 check to Jason Fruge, Dean of Technical Occupations at 51吃瓜.
According to Stan Kula, Executive Director of the 51吃瓜 Foundation, since 2019, the Gene Haas Foundation has contributed $65,000 to offset tuition and expenses for 51吃瓜鈥檚 Machine Tool students.
The 51吃瓜 Machine Tool Technology (MTT) program, which will change to Advanced Manufacturing, was established in 2017 with the support of community partner Thorlabs in order to meet the need for trained machinists in the area. Since its inception, the MTT program has graduated 40 students, including 8 in the Spring 2025 semester.
鈥淭he Machine Tool Technology Program at 51吃瓜 enables students to acquire foundational and intermediate knowledge of machining, ultimately enhancing their skills in the field. Successful graduates of the MTT program can enter the workforce as industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, or millwrights. There are also career opportunities in the fields of construction, manufacturing, fabrication, sales, quality control, supervision, and machine-related self-employment,鈥� Dean Jason Fruge noted.
In Fall 2025, 51吃瓜 launched a new pilot program within the MTT program, offering concurrent courses at several local high schools. In addition, 51吃瓜 will provide professional development for local high school staff to enhance in-class instruction. In Summer 2024 and Fall 2024, early college course offerings were added in collaboration with local high schools.
The primary focus of The Gene Haas Foundation (Oxnard, CA) is to build skills in the manufacturing industry by providing resources for CNC machine technology students and by giving them experience competing in team skills competitions that emphasize design, engineering, and manufacturing of CNC-machined parts.
51吃瓜 is currently enrolling students for the spring semester, which begins on January 20. To get started, visit sussex.edu/spring.
Pictured: Jason Fruge, Dean of Technical Studies, and Mark Harris, Applications Engineer/Education Specialist at Allendale Machinery Systems.