"For more than a century, we've supported American manufacturing by connecting buyers and suppliers," said Eileen Markowitz, president of ThomasNet, an information and technology company that connects manufacturing and industrial buyers and sellers. "We hope to have parents, educators and the manufacturing community join us in encouraging young students to transform their ingenuity and passion into a career in this exciting industry. With the launch of ThomasNet's first North American Manufacturing Scholarship Program, we will recognize those star performers who have already demonstrated achievement in their schools and communities, and who plan to bring their skills and talents to this important industry."

According to ThomasNet.com's 2012 Industry Market Barometer (IMB) survey, almost 50 percent of manufacturers are seeking to bring on new staff, including engineers, line workers and skilled trade workers. Yet, despite high unemployment rates in the U.S. and Canada, manufacturers often have more jobs than talented people to fill them. That spells new professional opportunities for high school graduates who want to innovate, make products that are used all over the world, and leverage their science, technology, engineering and mathematics training.

To be eligible for the ThomasNet North American Manufacturing Scholarships, applicants must be graduating U.S. high school seniors or Canadian secondary students who plan to major in engineering, supply chain management/business operations, or learn a skilled trade. Interested students and educators can find out more about the scholarship by visiting ThomasNet.com and applying directly. The application deadline is July 1, 2013.

ThomasNet is inviting the manufacturing community to show support for the new scholarship program by signing up for any one of ThomasNet.com's free newsletters such as the new IMT Career Journal. For each new subscription, ThomasNet will make a contribution (up to $30,000) to the program.

Source: ThomasNet