08 Nov 2021 Computerized Machining Program receives $12,000 grant award

BEEBE — The Computerized Machining Program at the Arkansas State University-Beebe Searcy Campus will be able to offer multiple scholarship opportunities to students thanks to a $12,000 grant award from the Gene Haas Foundation. 

The Gene Haas Foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education. In 2020, the Foundation provided more than $17 million in grants, bringing the total since inception to more than $100 million. 

“These funds will open the door to higher education for students who could otherwise not afford to attend college,” said Derrick Holobaugh, Computerized Machining instructor at ASU-Beebe Searcy. He said he plans to use all $12,000 to provide scholarships, but added that funds can also be used to pay for textbooks, program supplies such as small tool kits, fees for competitions such as SkillsUSA, and certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).  

The Computerized Machining Program is accredited by NIMS. Holobaugh said the institute offers more than 50 professional certifications that students can earn, increasing their marketability after graduation. 

Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computerized Machining, which encompasses skills in manual machining, CNC, CAD/CAM programming, and 3D modeling. 

“Students can program and run a CNC machine, as well as design and utilize a software package to set up programming, which is a more modern approach,” Holobaugh said. The program offers daytime classes as well as classes four nights a week to offer students flexibility. Holobaugh said classes in the AAS degree are transferable to multiple bachelor degree options at A-State. 

For more information about ASU-Beebe programs, call 501.882-3600, or visit asub.edu.