Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to the Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship
The Gene Haas Foundation is dedicated to empowering the next generation of skilled professionals in the manufacturing industry. Founded in 1999 by Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation and Haas Racing Companies, the foundation provides financial support to students and educational programs focused on machining and CNC technology. The Gene Haas Foundation's mission extends to supporting children's charities and organizations that address food insecurity, particularly in Ventura County. All money is directly contributed solely by Gene Haas himself. These funds can never be used to purchase goods from Gene Haas’ other companies.
Supporting Manufacturing Career Pathways
The Gene Haas Foundation supports competitions that empower students to explore technical career pathways. Through these challenges, participants design, build, and compete with their creations, gaining hands-on experience in real-world manufacturing. The foundation proudly sponsors individual teams, fostering innovation and skill development.
The Foundation collaborates with schools and training centers that specialize in Manufacturing Career Pathways. By awarding scholarship grants, they help institutions provide crucial financial support to students, ensuring the next generation of skilled professionals has the resources to succeed.
Eligibility and Application
For Students
Grants for scholarships are awarded directly to the training programs and schools with CNC training courses, the Gene Haas Foundation cannot grant funds to an individual.
For example, the Gene Haas Foundation Awards are available to Central NM Community College (CNM) students in the Machine Tool Technology program in their second academic term or later. Outstanding students who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in Machining will be awarded a scholarship. The cash award may be used for tuition, fees, tool purchases or any other financial need. To be considered for the award applicants must be a declared Machine Tool Technology AAS or Certificate major and complete a scholarship application.
Read also: Chancellor Block's Impact
If a previous student, must be in good standing with a 2.0 G.P.A.
For Educational Institutions and Teams
- FIRST (FRC & FTC) Teams: The Gene Haas Foundation supports partnership competition teams. Canadian FIRST FRC & FTC teams, and other qualifying competition teams are eligible to apply. FIRST FRC teams outside of the US and Canada are eligible to apply between May 1, 2026, to September 15, 2026. GHF will be able to issue funding through the FIRST Organization; credit will be issued to your team’s accounts dashboard. FIRST FTC teams in Mexico are eligible to apply between May 1, 2026, to September 15, 2026. FIRST FTC teams in France, Netherlands, and the UK are encouraged to inquire with their respective delivery partners if they have GHF funds available to sponsor your team as these grants are limited.
- SkillsUSA: The Gene Haas Foundation is a corporate sponsor of SkillsUSA. When the students competing in CNC technology arrive at the National Championships, they are provided with a gift card to assist with their expenses at the event. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalists will be given awards provided by GHF sent to them by SkillsUSA at the closing ceremonies. Additionally, $3,000 of the scholarship grant funds awarded to each school may be used for the expenses of students competing in the CNC competitions at regional and national events.
- Project MFG: Project MFG is the highest technical level machining competition available to schools today.
How High School Programs Can Utilize Scholarships
High School and Secondary programs can:
- Award scholarships to their students upon graduation in the form of toolboxes for them to take with them to use in their post-secondary training.
- Award scholarships to students who will be continuing their education in a CNC training program at a post-secondary level.
- Organize a summer camp for students entering High School to introduce them to manufacturing.
- Organize CNC/Project Camps and Workshops for current students.
HTEC (Haas Technical Education Conferences)
The Gene Haas Foundation operates and funds the HTEC (Haas Technical Education Conferences), a community for Educators to teach and learn from each other as well as industry professionals.
Educators can:
- Attend HTEC conferences to network and learn from industry partners and other CNC instructors to gain skills, knowledge, and share best practices.
- Apply for Scholarships for their students.
- Apply for Sponsorship for a competition team.
- Run for a position on the HTEC council to assist in the technical recruitment and planning of the HTEC Annual Conference.
The foundation oversees a group of peer-elected educators each year to help plan the Educator Led Sessions presented at the Annual HTEC conference.
Read also: Explore Haas Hall Academy
HTEC conferences are funded by Gene Haas Foundation to provide training and resources to educators who are training students in CNC at secondary, post-secondary, universities, or workforce development centers.
Teacher Training is taught at 6 programs around the US. These 6 programs were chosen by the foundation to teach a variety of 5 classes to help instructors who would benefit from learning best practice teaching techniques. Teacher Training is offered during the summer months. Some programs may offer a session or two during winter recess or spring break. These classes are taught in small cohorts of approximately 6 attendees per instructor. If you have a group of educators that would make up a cohort interested in attending teacher training, you may reach out to the program of choice and ask if they can accommodate your group. The breakdown of cost for educators and Gene Haas Foundation funds is shown on the teacher training page of our site. Each Teacher Training school handles registration independently.
The decision to hold a conference in any given school is contingent on many factors. The two most important are geography and Infrastructure. Geography considers the number of programs within a reasonable distance of any location; the foundation has a very limited staff and a defined budget for this initiative, and our board requires reasonable attendance to fund an event. Infrastructure considers the logistics of the conference itself.
- Is there a common space that will accommodate approximately 100 educators and partners to sit for meals and keynote/other presentations with a sound system?
- Is the shop large enough and adequately equipped with numerous later models and multi axis capability to perform demos on machines simultaneously?
Premier Haas Technical Education Center (PTEC)
A very exclusive capital grant program for/endorsement of the best CNC training programs in North American and Europe; a very limited number of schools are added each year. Candidate programs are teaching the most advanced manufacturing processes prior to their selection for this honor. Their exemplary programs are in high demand and need to expand their facilities to accommodate waiting lists. They are well staffed and are building their own succession plan to continue the excellence they currently display. They exhibit excellent relationships with and serve the needs of the local industry. They exhibit a track record of success in procuring grants to provide resources for their students. Currently GHF is identifying programs in North America and Europe.
Additional Information
- The Gene Haas Foundation was formed in 1999 to fund the needs of the local community and other deserving charities, at the discretion of its benefactor, Mr. Gene Haas.
- Of special importance to the Gene Haas Foundation are children’s charities and organizations that feed the poor, especially within the local community of Ventura County.
- In addition, the Gene Haas Foundation provides scholarship funds to Community Colleges and Vocational Schools for students entering technical training programs, especially machinist-based certificate and degree programs in partnership with the SME Education Foundation.
- No, the next year when you apply, you will be asked about how the funds were used.
- These funds can never be used to purchase goods from Gene Haas’ other companies.
Read also: UC Berkeley Haas Program
tags: #gene #haas #scholarship #requirements
