ROCKFORD, Ill., Feb. 20, 2007 – The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for college- or trade school-bound high school seniors who seek careers in manufacturing. College scholarship applications must be submitted by April 2. Trade school scholarship applications are accepted at any time during the year and are determined on a quarterly basis.

To be eligible, applicants must be full-time students with a minimum 3.0 GPA (for a college scholarship) or a 2.0 GPA (for a trade/technical school scholarship) enrolled in an engineering or manufacturing-related course of study, or a trade or technical program that may lead to a career in manufacturing. Students will be responsible for submitting academic records and an engineering or manufacturing-related program description with each application.

Membership-based scholarships are available for individuals who are members of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), Tube and Pipe Association, International (TPA) or the Outside Processors Council (OPC); the employee of a member company; or the child of a member or member company’s employee.

College scholarships for members are $5,000 per school year and college scholarships for non-members are $2,500 per school year. Trade school scholarships up to $2,000 per school year require membership. Students may apply for membership at the time of application.   For more information about the scholarships available, students should call (815) 381-1338 or visit http://www.fma-foundation.org/Scholarships.cfm.

The FMA Foundation is a charitable organization that offers grants to not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions introducing young people to metal forming careers in manufacturing, provides funding to organizations starting or expanding manufacturing camps for youth, and issues scholarships to students at colleges and trade schools pursuing careers in manufacturing. More information on the foundation is available by visiting www.fma-foundation.org.

For more information contact: