Donation to Boost Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program

January 10, 2017

Representatives from the Gene Haas Foundation presented a check for $30,000 to support the students of Hudson Valley Community College's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program. This is the third such gift in as many years, which was accepted by President Drew Matonak and Hudson Valley Community College Foundation Interim Executive Director Regina LaGatta.

Dave Sharpe, regional representative of Allendale Machinery Systems and Marty McGill, vice president of Allendale Machinery Systems, presented the funds on behalf of the Haas Foundation.

The Gene Haas Foundation funds community causes across the country, many of which are related to supporting a skilled manufacturing workforce. Since its creation in 1999, the Gene Haas Foundation has awarded in excess of $22 million to nearly 1,000 organizations. Gene Haas is the founder of Haas Automation, based Oxnard, California, one of the largest machine tool builders in the world.

In 2015, the college received a leadership challenge gift of $1 million from the Gene Haas Foundation for the expansion of the college's Advanced Manufacturing Technology program and Lang Hall, the building which houses the program's labs and classrooms. The college and its Foundation are now seeking further support to make the expansion a reality.

The college's Advanced Manufacturing Technology program is seen as key to educating the skilled workforce to maintain and grow the manufacturing sector in New York. It is the only such manufacturing program within 125 miles of Albany.

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Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.