Pine Bush High School is the first high school in the country to receive a Gene Haas Foundation grant for manufacturing education. The district will receive $250,000 and build the Gene Haas Innovation Center, doubling the square footage of the school’s Science Technology Engineering Art and Math (STEAM) area.
“This is a big deal for our students and for the entire Hudson Valley,” said Principal Aaron Hopmayer. “This will allow us to expand our already-growing STEAM program.”
Pine Bush High School has been ahead of the curve for years in this area. In addition to Haas Automation, the high school partners with the Council of Industry of Southeast New York, Allendale Machinery Systems/Haas Factory Outlet, Workforce Development Institute, Pratt & Whitney Advanced Coating Technologies and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Students earn industry credentials in multiple areas and they have the opportunity to immediately translate their skills to real-world career paths.
“We now have 15 former students working for Pratt and Whitney and three seniors working with CreoDent,” said Hopmayer. “The opportunities we’re providing to our students are incredible.”
The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Haas Automation, Inc., founder and CEO Gene Haas. He first provided grants to the local community through non-profit organizations. When he saw a growing need for skilled manufacturing employees, he expanded the foundation’s mission to include support for manufacturing training programs. The foundation has provided more than $100 million in grants since its inception. The grants typically go to college-level programs. However, Hopmayer and Ken Marshall, the high school’s STEAM coach, decided they would apply on behalf of Pine Bush High School.
“Every year we receive scholarship money from Haas to support our students pursuing higher education in the advanced manufacturing field,” Hopmayer said. “This grant will help us expand our program, allowing more students to take advantage of the opportunities. Manufacturing is coming back. Companies can’t find enough skilled workers for their positions.”
The grant process was long – it took three years from application to receipt. Hopmayer knows this is well worth it.
“We have had districts come here to tour our facility, to see what we are doing in the areas of advanced manufacturing and STEAM,” said Hopmayer. “Our curriculum is authentic, not bought. Our STEAM team is top notch.”
On Tuesday, April 27, the Pine Bush Central School District is hosting a kick-off event for the new Gene Haas Innovation Center for industry leaders, educators, administrators, politicians and business owners. Representatives from the Gene Haas Foundation will also be in attendance. At 10 a.m., invited guests will take a tour of our facility, watching our program in action. At 11 a.m. the official kick-off takes place outside under a tent near the technology area of the high school.