Call for Award Nominations from the FHE Community

NextFlex will participate in the first FabLab Science and Innovation Awards, brought to you by the same team that produces the Teen Choice Awards, and the Young Women’s Honors. To be held April 14 in Santa Monica, CA, the award show will be hosted by Mayim Bialik of Big Bang Theory fame and a neuroscientist in her own right, and will.i.am, 7-time Grammy winning recording artist, tech icon, and philanthropist.

Celebrating innovation and encouraging the nation’s youth to pursue STEAM education and manufacturing career pathways are key goals of this new event that promises to elevate the message that manufacturing and “making stuff” is cool. NextFlex, alongside Manufacturing USA, is proud to be associated with the event, and we invite you to get involved. Along with the other DOD sponsored manufacturing institutes, we are seeking award nominations to recognize those who inspire others to choose manufacturing as a career, and students who demonstrate proficiency in “making things.” Here is how:

1. Nominate a Manufacturing USA Champion that will recognize teachers, mentors, and advisors who demonstrate to young people, employees, and communities what it means to “make” things. Nominations are open to individuals or teams that foster manufacturing skills and innovation in advanced manufacturing technologies. Any organization (academic, trade, industry, or government) or individual (fellows, teachers, advisors, and/or students) may submit a nomination. We would love to see nominations from our FHE community as we know that there are many who fill these roles in helping others to learn about our evolving technology.

2. Nominate a Manufacturing USA Student to be recognized for fully developed projects, products, techniques, or processes that advance manufacturing in the US. Nominations are open to students of any age currently enrolled in grades 6-12, an accredited technical school, community college, four-year college, or university, at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Categories for male, female, and team projects are available. We recognize that the criteria for this award is very broad, so if you have ideas but are not sure that they fit, contact me, and I will help you shape the nomination. Again, it would be great to see nominations from our FHE community.