In a move to attract the brainpower and creativity of the next generation, and draw them into manufacturing, ThomasNet^® announces the launch of its North American Manufacturing Scholarship Program.  Up to thirty graduating high school seniors with an interest in manufacturing careers will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to pursue studies at a two-year or four-year college, or a vocational-technical school.

As far as ThomasNet is concerned, nothing less than the future is at stake. “For more than a century, we’ve supported American manufacturing by connecting buyers and suppliers,” said Eileen Markowitz, president of ThomasNet. “We hope to have parents, educators and the manufacturing community join us in encouraging young students to transform their ingenuity and passion into a career in this exciting industry. With the launch of ThomasNet’s first North American Manufacturing Scholarship Program, we will recognize those star performers who have already demonstrated achievement in their schools and communities, and who plan to bring their skills and talents to this important industry.”

The timing of the program is no accident.  According to ThomasNet.com’s 2012 Industry Market Barometer^® (IMB) survey, almost 50 percent of manufacturers are seeking to bring on new staff, including engineers, line workers, and skilled trade workers. Yet, despite high unemployment rates in the U.S. and Canada, manufacturers often have more jobs than talented people to fill them. That spells new professional opportunities for high school graduates who want to innovate, make products that are used all over the world, and leverage their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training.

ThomasNet is inviting the manufacturing community to show support for the new Scholarship Program by signing up for any one of ThomasNet.com’s free newsletters such as the new IMT Career Journal.  For each new subscription, ThomasNet will make a contribution (up to $30,000) to the Scholarship Program.

To be eligible for the ThomasNet North American Manufacturing Scholarships, applicants must be graduating U.S. high school seniors or Canadian secondary students who plan to major in engineering, supply chain management/business operations, or learn a skilled trade. Interested students and educators can find out more about the scholarship by visiting ThomasNet.com and applying directly at www.thomasnetscholarship.com. The application deadline is July 1, 2013.