HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science & Technology’s (HU) Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics (ADMA) program has received a $34,500 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation – the private family foundation of Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas Automation, Haas F1, and Haas Factory Racing – to support student scholarships and experiential learning opportunities, including student competition teams.
This is the fourth consecutive grant award that Dr. Richard Pitts, Jr., Department Chair & Program Lead for Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics, has received for the ADMA program from the Foundation since Fall 2022. The ongoing partnership reflects the Foundation’s commitment to CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and machining education, as well as HU’s role in workforce development for advanced manufacturing and robotics.
“This generous support from the Gene Haas Foundation directly expands opportunities for our students to access high-quality, industry-aligned training,” said Dr. Pitts. “Our program’s hands-on curriculum and industry partnerships, along with our smart factory, 3D printing, machining, and robotics labs, make HU a natural fit for the Haas mission. Together, we’re strengthening the pipeline of skilled manufacturing technicians and engineers in Pennsylvania and supporting good-paying jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Grant Purpose and Immediate Impacts
The Haas Foundation grant will be used to fund scholarships and support student competition teams that give ADMA students practical, project-based experience in CNC machining and related technologies. Harrisburg University’s ADMA facilities include a full-scale smart factory and industry-scale machine centers and 3D-printers: resources that enable students to convert classroom theory into industry-relevant skills.
The NASA Lunabotics Robotics Competition is a prime example of the sort of experiential learning opportunities unlocked by grants like this one. In 2024, HU’s inaugural Lunabotics team secured two awards at the qualifying event in Orlando, FL: an Honorable Mention for their STEM Engagement, as well as the coveted Best Presentation by a First-Year Team Award.
Why Haas Supports Advanced Manufacturing in PA
Gene Haas Foundation grants are aimed at expanding access to CNC and advanced manufacturing education, sponsoring teams in competitive engineering events, and supporting teacher training and lab development. The Foundation has a long history of supporting post-secondary and technical programs through scholarships, lab funding, and the Haas Technical Education Community (HTEC).
“The Gene Haas Foundation has awarded over 30 million dollars in 2025 for various initiatives to schools training in CNC technology and programs that introduce younger students to these technologies,” said Kathy Looman, Executive Director of the Gene Haas Foundation. “It is a privilege to support Harrisburg University once more through this grant award, and we’re thrilled that it will directly fund student access to affordable education and hands-on learning opportunities. Harrisburg University’s recognition demonstrates the ADMA program’s quality and alignment with employer needs in the region and nationally, and we’re excited to continue this work with HU into the future.”
Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics at HU
Harrisburg University offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics: a unique, hands-on degree that combines machining, robotics, automation, and additive manufacturing. The program operates a smart-factory environment with industrial and collaborative robotic platforms and a suite of industrial-scale 3D printers and machining centers, engaging students in real-world projects and industry collaboration. The program’s experiential focus equips graduates with the technical and applied problem-solving skills employers seek in modern manufacturing roles.
Dr. Pitts concluded: “Support from foundations like the Gene Haas Foundation accelerates our ability to remove financial barriers, connect students to meaningful industry experiences, and help employers find the skilled workers they need right now.”
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ABOUT THE GENE HAAS FOUNDATION
The Gene Haas Foundation focuses on supporting CNC and machining education, scholarships, team sponsorships for competition organizations and teams that highlight manufacturing technology, CNC teacher training, and the Naming Program/Endorsement of the highest-quality CNC training labs in North America and Europe. The Foundation operates grant programs and the Haas Technical Education Community (HTEC) to help scale advanced manufacturing education nationally and internationally.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was named one of the nation’s most innovative colleges for 2025 by US News & World Report. HU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and other health science fields. For additional information about HU’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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