Milwaukee SPE Education Foundation
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Dedication to Education
In the state of Wisconsin, there are many middle schools, high schools, technical colleges, and universities that are providing courses in plastics. Each year growing numbers of individuals at various age levels are instructed in many aspects of this expanding industry:
- Mold and part design
- Mold construction and maintenance
- Material composition and properties
- Available processes for molding
- Testing and evaluation methods
- Material handling and mold set-up
- Molding machine operation and maintenance
- Recycling of plastics
The plastics industry in Wisconsin is a significant player in our economy. The plastics industry is one of the top 5 employers in the state of Wisconsin. We represent a significant part of the Wisconsin work force across the State. The cost to educate plastics professionals at all levels continues to increase. These factors affect both instructors and students alike.
This means that, for lack of funds, tomorrow's best talent in plastics may never even get a chance to go to school. While those who do may not get the high quality education they need to prepare and keep pace with the industry's rapid technological advances. If healthy growth of this industry is to continue, support must be given to all affected parties financial support.
It was with this in mind that a group of dedicated individuals emerged from a well known and well represented professional organization located in Wisconsin. The Education Foundation of the Milwaukee Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) came into being in 1983 as a response to the plastics industry's constant need for eager, well-trained people to become the next generation of designers, mold makers, technicians and engineers.
The Education Foundation's commitment is to encourage, foster, enhance and improve the quality of plastics education in our schools. Its members recognized from the very start that assistance could be offered to the education systems in many ways, including:
Supplying better technology in the form of up-to-date part and tool design resources, molding, processing and testing equipment for processes such as injection, blow and extrusion molding.
Locating and distributing the latest in training materials on plastic resins, molding processes and related equipment and operations.
Conducting programs throughout the year to keep educators informed of new developments in plastics for their own curricula.
By working in concert with the Milwaukee Section's Education Committee and leading Wisconsin educators and employers to communicate each other's requirements and available services, to make the perfect match of qualified professional and employment opportunity a reality.
To perform these highly important tasks, the Education Foundation provides grants, scholarships and matching funds to deserving students and educational institutions engaged in the study of plastics and associated fields. Funds for these distributions are received from:
Interest and dividends accumulated through the investment of contributions to the Foundation from Milwaukee Section of SPE, The Education Foundations materials auction, corporations, organizations and individuals for educational purposes.
Contributions by the aforementioned outside parties designated for current general or specific educational purposes.
The Foundation's goal is to generate a fund of $1,000,000 to maintain a steady flow of these grants and scholarships that will help provide schools and students with the monies needed to develop the next generation of plastics professionals. A successful program of prudent, conservative investments has been developed as part of our investment policy, with the proceeds distributed to defray the expenses involved in the teaching, training and study of plastics. The Education Foundation never spends its principle. The Education Foundations only awards grants based the annual earnings from its investments. We currently have $650,000 in assets and have awarded about 5% of our funds per year. This strategy assures that the Education Foundation will be able to assists students and educators for an indefinite period of time.
The stage has been set. Those who need assistance are known as well as those who will orchestrate the distribution of that assistance. A clear set of goals has been established where we balance time of exposure, number of students and quality of the education delivered. All that is needed are benefactors who share our concerns about the current level of plastics education in our state, and wish to see improvement made in the future. We ask for your generous assistance, either monetarily or through referral of interested parties and local foundations, to achieve these far reaching goals.
It all comes down to a matter of self-preservation. Who we hire in the future depends upon whose interest we stimulate and whose education we promote.
Grant and Scholarship Beneficiaries
Since its inception in 1983, the Education Foundation has made many awards to a growing list of worthy institutions of beginning and higher education. The distribution of grants for equipment and other educational purposes is represented in the following partial list:
- Brown Deer Middle School
- Clintonville High School
- Discovery World (Milwaukee)
- Gateway Technical College
- Howard's Grove High School
- Moraine Park Technical College
- Mount Horeb Middle School
- MPS Samuel Morse Middle School
- Sally Ride Academy
- Sheboygan North High School
- Sheboygan South High School
- Sussex Hamilton Middle School
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- University of Wisconsin – Platteville
- University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
- Waukesha County Technical College
- West Bend West High School
Scholarships to reduce education expenses have been donated to the following schools: (Recipients are chosen by the school based on a set of criteria outlined by the Education Foundation Board)
- Gateway Technical College - Kenosha
- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- Moraine Park Technical College
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- University of Wisconsin - Platteville
The Education Foundation was a leading factor in the establishment of a Youth Apprenticeship Program for the Plastics Industry here in the state of Wisconsin, supporting it with commitments of participation, funding and scholarships.
The Foundation has sponsored twelve or more middle and high school teachers at an annual four-day course on Plastics Technology instruction at the University of Wisconsin Platteville. Tuition and teaching materials were provided by the Foundation to the attendees who utilized their summer vacation to enhance their knowledge about plastics and learning how to gear their instruction to a younger generation.
About The Foundation
The Education Foundation of the Milwaukee Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers was founded in 1983 as a tax-free, non-profit corporation qualifying as a 501-C foundation. It was formed to promote the plastics industry through increased awareness of this ever-growing segment of American commerce and manufacturing in the various educational institutions in the state of Wisconsin.
The Foundation's Board of Directors is comprised of professionals in the plastics industry representing many areas and levels of management, engineering, processing, quality assurance and sales. Some of them own their own businesses and are intimately aware of the quality of employee needed to maintain the growth and innovation the industry has enjoyed for many decades. They possess all the credentials necessary for the administration and distribution of monies where the greatest need exists and the desired benefits may be realized.
Board members donate their time and services to the Foundation so all incoming funds may be dedicated to their goal of a self-sustaining source of monetary assistance for students and schools. Through this, the industry and economy of our state and nation may also benefit.
Board Contacts
President
Dave Brimble
Production Plastics
Ph: (262) 375-0344
FX: (262) 375-4480
greenbaydave@charter.net
Vice President
George Shier
Phone: 262-305-5134
gvshier@hotmail.com
Treasurer
Tom Foran
Empire Level
PH: 262 368-2167
FAX: 262 368-2183
mfgmgrtf@empirelevel.com
Secretary
Randy Rolfs
SPE Milwaukee Section
Education Foundation
17125C West Bluemound Road
PMB 131
Brookfield, WI 53005