With New $500,000 Gift, Office of Commissioner of Higher Education to Make Announcement of New Manufacturing and Industrial Scholarship Program for Low-Income Students and Veterans, Thursday, December, 18th

The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education will announce the creation of a major scholarship opportunity for two-year, manufacturing programs, Thursday, December 18th in Helena

The Office of the Commissioner Higher Education will be announcing the creation of a program to provide low-income students and military veterans with access to highly needed training and credentials in manufacturing and industrial programs.

Students, industry leaders, and representatives of the Montana University System will be available share information about the affected programs that are the focus of the scholarship opportunities.

"This gift is great news for Montana manufacturers as well as students who are considering a career in the manufacturing field," said Tom Spika, President of Spika Welding and Manufacturing http://www.spikawelding.com/ , who also serves as chairman of the Montana Manufacturing Council, a subsidiary of the Montana Chamber of Commerce. "We are experiencing a severe skills gap and workforce shortage for many of us requiring skilled welders, machinists, and other manufacturing positions, and this scholarship will go far in promoting and facilitating a workforce to match these current and future job opportunities."

Mr. Spika will join Thursday’s announcement along with Kevin McRae, Deputy Commissioner for Communications and Human Resources for the Montana University System, Daniel Bingham, Dean/CEO of Helena College, John Cech, Deputy Commissioner for Two-year and Community College Education and Dean Susan Wolff from Great Falls College. The giftor will also be present at the announcement and available for comment at that time.

Members of the media are encouraged to attend this announcement.

WHAT: Major two-year, manufacturing scholarship announcement

WHEN: Thursday, December 18th at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Airport Campus Building of Helena College, 2300 Airport Rd., Helena, Montana, 59601

Colleges with programs that are eligible for student use of the scholarships are: Bitterroot College in Hamilton; City College of MSU Billings; Flathead Valley Community College; MSU Northern; Highlands College of Montana Tech in Butte; Little Bighorn College at Crow Agency; Fort Peck Community College in Poplar; Miles Community College; Dawson Community College; Great Falls College of MSU; Helena College of UM; Missoula College of UM; and Gallatin College of MSU in Bozeman.

Supplemental information will be distributed immediately following Thursday’s announcement in Helena. There will be a Q&A at the announcement.