UltiMaker and SME Education Foundation Launch the MakerBot Scholarship, Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Innovators
Bennie Sham
March 25, 2025
NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 – In partnership with the SME Education Foundation, UltiMaker, a global provider of 3D printing solutions, today announced the launch of the new MakerBot Scholarship. The scholarship aims to empower students from underrepresented, low-income communities to pursue degrees in industrial engineering, manufacturing, or additive manufacturing by providing financial support for higher education.
The MakerBot Scholarship will award one student $20,000, distributed annually over four years ($5,000 per year). By alleviating financial barriers, this scholarship opens opportunities for students who are passionate about shaping the future of innovation and design thinking. The scholarship demonstrates MakerBot’s mission to make advanced technologies more accessible to all students, regardless of background.
“We believe that companies have a responsibility to give back and support communities, especially when it comes to empowering the next generation of innovators,” said Dottie Stewart, VP of Sales–Americas, UltiMaker. “There are significant challenges in education today, and, as a result, students have fewer opportunities to pursue degrees. Through the MakerBot Scholarship, we will continue to provide critical resources to help students advance their education and prepare to be successful, productive adults in the workforce.”
The MakerBot Scholarship is part of the new MakerBot Gives Back Initiative, a broader effort to provide $500,000 worth of 3D printing resources to educators, students, schools, and STEM organizations. The MakerBot Scholarship provides students with support to pursue STEM degrees and develop skills that will help them succeed in their fields.
The SME Education Foundation is the philanthropic arm of SME that inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. The Foundation’s scholarship program awards nearly one million dollars on an annual basis to hundreds of graduating high school seniors and current college students across the country. With more than 60 distinct programs, the Foundation provides merit and need-based scholarships, issues renewing and one-time awards, and seeks applications from all eligible students. Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded $18 million to over 5,000 future industry leaders.
“Education and technology are what drive the manufacturing sector forward,” said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. “So when technology leaders like UltiMaker invest in the next generation of the skilled manufacturing workforce, the Foundation is proud to be a trusted partner in supporting students of all backgrounds on their path to a career in manufacturing.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the SME Education Foundation to provide more access to critical resources to help more students,” said Andrea Zermeño, Manager–MakerBot Education, UltiMaker. “We recognize the importance of education, and we believe that this will help better equip students with the skills they need to succeed in an evolving workforce.”
UltiMaker and the SME Education Foundation will also be exhibiting at RAPID+TCT in Detroit, Mich., April 8-10, 2025. Visit UltiMaker at booth #1244 to learn more about MakerBot’s initiatives and 3D printing solutions for education.
About UltiMaker and MakerBot
UltiMaker is a global leader in 3D printing, focused on shaping the future of manufacturing, product development, and education. With a wide range of cutting-edge 3D printing solutions, including the popular S-, Factor- and Method series, one of the widest portfolios of 3D printing materials on the market, and leading 3D printing software platforms–Cura and Digital Factory, UltiMaker is paving the way for innovation across industries. Visit www.ultimaker.com.
Under UltiMaker, MakerBot is the only 3D printing brand dedicated solely to education, offering the most comprehensive ecosystem tailored for classroom learning, educational advancement, and skills development. For over a decade, MakerBot has collaborated with educators to transform classrooms and STEM curricula through 3D printing. Beyond hardware, MakerBot's commitment to education is further demonstrated by its extensive 3D printing resources, including ISTE-aligned training programs, curriculum development and design thinking courses, funding guides, tutorials, and educational webinars, professional development, an active and supportive community, hundreds of lesson plans, and more. Visit www.makerbot.com.
About SME Education Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of SME, the SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Established in 1979, the Foundation works to expose youth to modern manufacturing technologies, train students on relevant manufacturing processes, and award millions of dollars in scholarships annually. All Foundation programming seeks to empower youth to consider and pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering and increase engagement with historically underrepresented populations to help diversify the manufacturing industry. We continue to inspire, prepare, and support the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent – now as many as 12,000 students every year. Visit smeef.org and follow the SME Education Foundation on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
