The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded St. Cloud State University’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MFET) program $18,000 in grants to support student scholarships.
The scholarships were recognized during the Spring MFET Social on Feb. 25, where students were honored in a special ceremony. All students enrolled in the program benefited from the award.
“Students’ hard work and the time they invest in their classes are translating into meaningful achievements; they are growing and developing as engineers, and organizations like the Gene Haas Foundation recognize their strong potential,” said Dr. Jungwon Ahn, MFET associate professor and program director, who was named an Outstanding Educator in 2025. “This support reflects the program’s clear relevance and strong connection to industry.”
The MFET program emphasizes hands-on learning and industry-relevant, practical experiences. The curriculum continuously evolves to address emerging technologies and workforce needs, including the integration of collaborative robots and advanced manufacturing equipment such as Haas Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines.
The SCSU MFET program actively collaborates with local manufacturing companies, industry partners, alumni and other colleges. Recently, the program established four articulation agreements with two-year institutions, including Alexandria Technical & Community College and Hennepin Technical College.
The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, Founder and CEO of Haas Automation, Inc. Recognizing the growing need for skilled manufacturing employees, the Foundation expanded its mission to support manufacturing training programs throughout North America and beyond.
Through scholarship grants, sponsorship of individual and team CNC competitions and partnerships with leading CNC training programs, the Foundation helps expand access to high-quality manufacturing technology education worldwide. The Gene Haas Foundation donates millions of dollars annually to manufacturing education and community initiatives. Since 1999, the Foundation has provided more than $275 million in grants and sponsorships.
