Howard University and Xometry  Celebrate Manufacturing Day

Howard University and Xometry, Inc., an AI-enabled marketplace for on-demand manufacturing, has created the Xometry Scholars Program. Xometry will pledge more than $900,000 to provide eight scholarships over the next four school years to students enrolled in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture.

The announcement was made in conjunction with Manufacturing Day, which is recognized nationally on the first Friday in October to raise awareness about advanced manufacturing careers and prepare the current and next-generation workforce for the skills and jobs of the future. The scholarships will be awarded to students in need who are studying for a mechanical engineering undergraduate degree and are interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing. 

“Manufacturing and Design is one of the top competencies within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, so this partnership in support of historically underserved and underrepresented groups of STEM students is incredibly timely. By enabling students to acquire the top-notch training we provide and current knowledge of industry practices, there is a win-win future where the current manufacturing skills gap is reduced and the US human capital pool can continue to remain relevant and become the model," says Nadir Yilmaz, Ph.D., P.E., chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture.

The creation of the Xometry Scholars Program is part of the Xometry.org impact investing fund launched earlier this year. The initiative is dedicated to supporting sustainable manufacturing initiatives and providing educational opportunities for underrepresented communities.  

Under the Xometry.org program over the next 5 years, Xometry will pledge 1% of its equity to create opportunities for underrepresented students to build a more sustainable future. The program will focus on continuing education, early education, energy production and conservation. 

“Xometry has always supported causes ranging from education to environmental conservation to civic responsibility, and we are proud to formalize this program through the creation of the Xometry Scholars Program,” says Laurence Zuriff, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Xometry. “Part of reestablishing U.S. manufacturing leadership is expanding the cohort of talented mechanical engineers, machinists and technicians. In order to accelerate innovation, the U.S. needs more than just material infrastructure. It needs to invest in training the next generation with the skills that are essential to modern manufacturing.”  

The worker shortage in manufacturing has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute. Xometry’s priority is to support underrepresented communities in STEM across the United States through tuition support, particularly to those pursuing mechanical engineering degrees and vocational training, to provide new opportunities for underrepresented communities, address the manufacturing skill shortage and revitalize U.S. manufacturing.  

The Xometry.org program will also support efforts to increase clean energy production and will devote significant funds to offsetting carbon emissions through land and sea conservation. In 2020, the company implemented a carbon offset program, the Xometry Instant Quoting Engine, which calculates each order’s estimated carbon footprint and the cost to offset the emissions.  

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.