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SOUTHFIELD, MI, Apr 23, 2025 – The SME Education Foundation has announced the winners of the “Bright Minds Student Summit” at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing, held between April 8-10 in Detroit. Hosted alongside SME conferences and events, “Bright Minds Student Summit” showcase modern manufacturing as a high-tech, growing, and rewarding career path for students and educators.
The three-day event included guided show-floor tours, technology demonstrations, and speaker sessions. It ended with a gamified competition among teams. Each day, one team was recognized for collaboration, innovation, and engagement. Every student on the winning teams received Ender 3D printers. A total of 15 printers were given out during the event.
“This is more than just an event – it’s a spark,” said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. “Introducing students to advanced manufacturing technologies through the Bright Minds Student Summit helps them see what is possible and where their future can take them. We are not only building awareness, we are building pathways to meaningful careers and ensuring the next generation is prepared to lead the industry forward.”
The 2025 winning schools are:
- Southeastern High School, Detroit, MI
- Lincoln Senior High School, Ypsilanti, MI
- Roosevelt INVEST High School, Hazel Park, MI
The first “Bright Minds Student Summit” of the year welcomed nearly 200 students and 40 teachers from 11 schools in MI. The event introduced them to additive manufacturing and 3D printing and showed how the tools are used in automotive, aerospace, and defense. Seven of the participating schools are part of the SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) network, a program of the SME Education Foundation.
The Summit offered students an opportunity to connect with over 30 exhibitors, explore live tech applications, and learn from industry professionals. It served as a launchpad for young talent, providing insights, inspiration, and practical tools to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. At the same time, it helped manufacturers engage with the next generation of innovators.
“Participating in the Bright Minds Student Summit was an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Bashar Mary, a teacher at Roosevelt INVEST High School. “Engaging directly with student-friendly exhibitors gave them real-world insight into how additive manufacturing is shaping the future of industry. It sparked new ideas, built confidence, and showed them that careers in advanced manufacturing are not only possible – they’re exciting and within reach. Experiences like this are truly transformative for our students.”
“The experience our students gained at the Bright Minds Student Summit was invaluable,” said Trent Trout, a teacher at Saline High School. “Being able to interact with cutting-edge technologies and speak directly with industry professionals opened their eyes to new career paths they hadn’t considered before. Events like this help make classroom learning real, and that kind of inspiration is a win in itself.”
Source: SME Education Foundation
About SME Education Foundation
The SME Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring, preparing, and supporting the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Headquartered in Southfield, MI, the Foundation serves the manufacturing and engineering industries across the United States. It offers a range of programs, including SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education), which partners with high schools to provide tailored manufacturing and engineering curricula, equipment, and teacher training. Additionally, the Foundation organizes Bright Minds Student Summits, exposing students to advanced manufacturing technologies and career opportunities. Through its scholarship program, the Foundation awards millions of dollars annually to high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in the manufacturing and engineering fields. Since 2005, it has awarded $18 million to over 5,000 students. The SME Education Foundation continues to play a pivotal role in addressing the manufacturing skills gap by equipping students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the industry.
