Waukesha County Technical College receives $540k donation from Gene Haas Foundation

WAUKESHA COUNTY (CBS 58) --- Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) received a donation of $540,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation.

Officials say $500,000 of the donation will be used to create a sophisticated training space, the Gene Haas CNC Training Center. It will include updating labs and classrooms to educate students in a modern, world-class facility.

The remaining $40,000 will be used for scholarships to benefit prospective manufacturing students and those who currently enrolled in WCTC's Machine Tool Operation, Tool and Die and CNC Setup Technician programs, according to a news release.

“Their giving demonstrates the impact of philanthropy on our students in ‘accessing, continuing and completing’ their educational journey at WCTC,” WCTC Foundation president Ellen Phillips said.

Kathy Looman, director of education for the Gene Haas Foundation, said the gift to WCTC is an endorsement of its manufacturing programs.

“At an opening of a Gene Haas Center a couple years ago, Gene Haas thanked teachers and proceeded to say: ‘The investments of money don't compare to the teachers and people who invest their time with students,’” Looman said. “Recently, as I sat at a large table with the management, foundation and instruction team from Waukesha County Technical College, I was impressed by how much manufacturing industry experience and passion was revealed in everyone’s introductions. Combined with the state-of-the-art equipment, Waukesha is a model of success.”