CWIMA Student
Scholarship Opportunities

Each year, the Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA) awards scholarships to area high school students for continuing education to learn in-demand trade skills in manufacturing.

Hosted by CWIMA, the Machine Tool Competition and the Welding Competition offer two different skills-based scholarship opportunities for high school students. The two competitions are geared toward aspiring machinists and welders and are open to male and female students in Central Wisconsin high schools. Students can participate in both competitions and earn up to one CWIMA scholarship each year they attend high school. Competitions are held in April of each year.

The top ten finalists are awarded individual scholarships in both competitions; First place is $2000, Second place is $1500, Third place is $1000, Fourth and Fifth places are $750, and Sixth through Tenth places are $500.

Juniors and seniors can compete in the Machine Tooling Competition, and all high school grades are eligible to compete in the Welding Competition. Team competition winners can also help their schools earn prize money ranging from $300-500 that can be used to purchase metal fabrication equipment for their school.

The scholarship awards are used to pay a student’s tuition for manufacturing-related classes at either Mid-State Technical College (M-STC) in Wisconsin Rapids or Northcentral Technical College (NTC) in Wausau. Manufacturing related classes include Machine Tooling, Welding, Engineering, and Project Management classes.

A more streamlined application process is coming.