VU Receives $1.5 Million Donation for Tech Training

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VU Receives $1.5 Million Donation for Tech Training

Citing the need to boost area incomes and employment, Lawrenceville, Ill., business leader Frank Ladner has donated $1.5 million to Vincennes University to establish a high-tech training center.

The Haas CNC Training Center, now under development at VU, is the recipient of the gift. Ladner's donation will enable VU to spend $618,000 to purchase seven Haas CNC machines. The balance of the funds will be used to purchase additional equipment to complete VU's Haas CNC Training Center. It will be located on campus in the Indiana Center for Applied Technology.

"I am very impressed with the program that Haas has established at Vincennes University. VU has wonderful facilities for it. My interest is to have something worthwhile in the area to develop income and employment growth. I am glad to support projects that achieve that," Ladner said.

VU President Dick Helton said that Ladner's gift will enable VU to be in the forefront nationally in the area of computer numerical control (CNC) training for business and industry.

"I believe this will be a wonderful addition to Vincennes University and advanced manufacturing thanks to the generosity of Frank Ladner. He has been a longtime supporter of this area and VU is indebted to him for strengthening this training center," Helton said.

The new Center represents an expansion of VU's partnership with Haas Automation, the largest manufacturer of CNC machinery in the U.S., with benefits for VU that include bringing to campus workers, students, and teachers for training on state-of-the-art equipment. It also builds upon the newly established partnership that VU has with ABB Robotics and opens additional opportunities to develop partnerships with other advanced manufacturing companies in areas such as computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), measurement, and Swiss turning.

"I am extremely grateful for Frank Ladner's generosity in making this project possible," said Doug Bowman, director of the Haas Technical Education Center at VU. "The development of this Center will help support the Haas customer base. Employers in this area who own and operate Haas machines will be able to get trained and this will enhance their ability to hire additional employees to run their Haas equipment. This will benefit this area, the state, and the nation."

Bowman said a benefit of the new Center will be that it will allow VU to expand and enhance programming for students seeking associate degrees, third-year options, and baccalaureate degrees in technology.

As VU becomes the training site for Haas trainers from more than 900 locations throughout the nation, Bowman said that VU's advanced manufacturing graduates will benefit from VU's enhanced reputation as a leader in the field.

"This can only help VU graduates' abilities to land the best employment opportunities in the industry," Bowman said.

The Haas Technical Education Centers Network in the U.S. and Canada includes 940 schools, technical, and career centers, colleges, and universities.

"We look forward to this program at VU becoming very successful under the leadership of Doug Bowman. This is another major step forward for Vincennes University," Helton said.