AME Unveils Initiatives Aimed at Drawing Students to Manufacturing

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence has launched a pair of education-based programs geared toward attracting students to manufacturing careers: the Adopt a School Initiative and the Dr. Sherrie Ford Manufacturing as a Career Path Scholarship.

Pete Fehrenbach

April 16, 2014

2 min read

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence has launched a pair of education-based programs geared toward attracting students to manufacturing careers: the Adopt a School Initiative and the Dr. Sherrie Ford Manufacturing as a Career Path Scholarship.

The goal of the AME's Adopt a School Initiative is to connect manufacturing companies with schools in their communities to give students practical learning experience. The program provides STEM students with hands-on manufacturing experience and access to mentors and creates opportunities for teachers and students to attend conferences and workshops at reduced rates. It also includes a free subscription to AME's Target magazine.

The Williamsburg-James City County public school district in southeastern Virginia recently became the first district to participate in the Adopt a School initiative. Students visited a Walmart import distribution center and two high-tech food packaging operations, Ball Corp. and Printpack Inc., to learn about job opportunities in manufacturing and related STEM fields.

The AME's Dr. Sherrie Ford Manufacturing as a Career Path Scholarship is available to high school graduates and those with prior work experience who are seeking a college education in a manufacturing-related field. The application deadline for the 2014-15 fall term is June 13.

The scholarship is sponsored by Kronos and the AME Institute. Its namesake, Sherrie Ford, is a prominent manufacturing business owner and consultant who died in 2011.

About the Author

Pete Fehrenbach

Pete Fehrenbach, Associate Editor

Focus: Workforce | Chemical & Energy Industries | IW Manufacturing Hall of Fame

Follow Pete on Twitter: @PFehrenbachIW

Associate editor Pete Fehrenbach covers strategies and best practices in manufacturing workforce, delivering information about compensation strategies, education and training, employee engagement and retention, and teamwork. He writes a blog about workforce issue called Team Play.

Pete also provides news and analysis about successful companies in the chemical and energy industries, including oil and gas, renewable and alternative.

In addition, Pete coordinates the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.