The $1.5 million gift comes from Mission Conversion Services Alliance and will allow the university to complete a renovation and expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Shawnee State University has received a gift from Mission Conversion Services Alliance to complete the renovation and expansion of its Advanced Manufacturing Center. Mission Conversion Services Alliance is a partnership between AtkinsRéalis, Westinghouse, and Amentum, which are interested in creating talent pipelines in the advanced manufacturing industry.
According to an article on Shawnee State University’s website, Jeff Kendall, who serves as the president of AtkinsRéalis and as the Chairman of Mission Conversion Services Alliance, explained the organizations’ interests in supporting projects such as Shawnee State University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center. He is quoted as saying, “This partnership is more than a donation — it’s an investment in the next generation and a hands-on commitment to building their future. Access to education can transform lives, communities and industries. By investing in Shawnee State University’s new engineering lab, we’re helping build a bridge between classroom and career and turning ambitions into opportunities. Through this donation— we’re proud to help shape a pipeline of talent that will power the future of nuclear engineering.”
The Advanced Manufacturing Center gives students in related programs the opportunity to gain hands-on experience during their studies. The expansion and renovation of the Center includes new laboratories, both robotic and automation, and will simulate the types of workplaces students will enter into after their advanced manufacturing education. They will learn skills in areas like robotics systems, automation technology, and advanced plastics equipment.
Adam Miller, who is the Interim Dean of the College of Business and Engineering Technology, said, “This amount of funding will allow us to complete the expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing Center. It’s going to help build capacity to support more students going through these programs and prepare them for in demand careers but also support the manufacturing that is coming to the region. With donations and partnerships, we’re able to create more opportunities for our students. We can develop world-class labs right here in Portsmouth, Ohio, where we can have robotics automation and all the other components of advanced manufacturing to be able to support industry, economic development and student outcomes in our region.”
For more information about Shawnee State University, visit the school’s website.